The Ethereum ecosystem continues to evolve with the upcoming Pectra upgrade, a significant step forward in enhancing the network's capabilities and performance. During the 203rd All Core Developers Execution (ACDE) meeting, developers made substantial progress on finalizing specifications, launching test networks, and planning the rollout timeline. This article provides a detailed overview of the latest developments and what to expect in the coming months.
Pectra Devnet 5 Launch and Initial Findings
Developers successfully launched Pectra Devnet 5 just before the meeting commenced. This development network serves as a critical testing ground for new features and improvements. Parithosh Jayanthi, an Ethereum Foundation Developer Operations Engineer, reported initial observations of gas estimation issues within the devnet. He plans to collect relevant logs and share these findings with the broader developer community on the Ethereum Research Discord channel for further analysis and resolution.
Key Updates to Pectra Specifications
The meeting focused on five essential updates to the Pectra code specifications, each addressing specific aspects of the upgrade:
1. EIP 7623: Clarifying Gas Refund Handling
This update provides explicit clarification on how gas refunds are processed. The modifications have already been merged on GitHub and are included in the current testing phase on Pectra Devnet 5.
2. EIP 7840: Blob Scheduling and Base Fee Fraction
Discussions centered on base fee fraction calculations within EIP 7840. Developers agreed to implement the necessary changes on GitHub before the upcoming Pectra testing meeting, with no objections raised during the session.
3. Blob Base Fee Calculations and Fork Activation
A crucial clarification emerged regarding how excess gas is calculated during the Pectra activation period, particularly concerning blob base fees. The calculation depends on information from the previous block header. Developers unanimously agreed to clarify EIP 7691, specifying that the blob capacity increase would take effect one block after the fork boundary. This approach ensures calculations use only the new fork rules. Client teams are already testing this logic, with updates to the EIP expected before the next testing meeting.
4. EIP 2537: Precompile Cost Calculations
This update addresses multiplication cost calculations for BLS12-381 curve operations. Developers agreed to specify the calculation as integer division within the EIP. Client teams testing through Pectra Devnet 5 should already have implemented this logic in their code, making this primarily a documentation update.
5. EIP 7702: New Transaction Type and Code Introspection
The final specification update concerns EIP 7702, which introduces a new transaction type allowing externally owned accounts (EOAs) to set code permanently. A proposed modification would enable code introspection capabilities. This functionality would allow legacy contracts to inspect their own bytecode or that of external contracts, adjusting behavior based on this information.
While the Ethereum Virtual Machine Object Format (EOF) development team plans to disable code introspection in future upgrades, enabling it for checking EOA delegate addresses wouldn't hinder EOF development. This capability would enhance security for relayers and other external accounts when using EIP 7702 features like gas sponsorship.
Developers supported including this update in Pectra specifications, noting its straightforward implementation. The community will review the proposed changes before making a final decision in the next testing meeting.
Pectra System Contract Audit Completion
All third-party audits for Pectra system contracts have been completed, according to Ethereum Foundation Protocol Security Researcher Fredrik Svantes. The audits identified no major issues, and reports will be uploaded to GitHub for client teams to review. A dedicated session in the next ACDE meeting will allow auditors to present their findings and address questions from client teams.
Testnet Upgrade Schedule and Mainnet Timeline
Tim Beiko proposed a preliminary timeline for testnet upgrades. The plan involves determining block heights for upgrading Sepolia and Holesky testnets in the next two ACD meetings, with client releases prepared by February 3, 2025. The Sepolia fork is scheduled for the week of February 12, followed by the Holesky fork the week of February 19.
Barring any critical issues, the Pectra upgrade could reach the Ethereum mainnet in early to mid-March, approximately three to five weeks after the Holesky fork. This timeline received no objections during the meeting, with developers supporting coordinated client releases with testnet upgrades.
Holesky Gas Limit Increase Proposal
Ethereum Foundation General Engineer Sophia Gold proposed increasing the default gas limit on Holesky to 36 million (36m) in client releases. This approach ensures Holesky's default gas limit remains higher than Ethereum mainnet's, allowing proper testing of any mainnet gas limit increases. Several client teams confirmed their Holesky releases already implement this 36 million gas limit default.
RPC Standardization Efforts
Geth developer Felix Lange expressed concern about insufficient feedback from client teams regarding JSON-RPC specification standardization efforts. The lack of clear definition around the scope of RPC standardization and which ecosystem stakeholders should participate remains a challenge. Further discussions will occur on Discord, with plans for a dedicated workshop to address these issues.
Node Hardware and Bandwidth Requirements
Ethereum Foundation Applied Researcher Kevaundray Wedderburn requested feedback on documentation outlining minimum hardware and bandwidth requirements for Ethereum nodes. Discussions highlighted the need to distinguish between requirements for validating nodes and full nodes. The community will continue discussing whether to formalize these requirements through an informational EIP for broader reference.
EIP Editors Workshop
The Ethereum Cat Herders team will host an EIP Editors Workshop to overview the EIP editing process. This session welcomes all community members interested in EIP workflows and editorial processes, with recordings available afterward on YouTube.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pectra upgrade?
The Pectra upgrade represents the next major enhancement to the Ethereum network, incorporating several Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) that improve functionality, security, and efficiency. These changes address various aspects of network operations from transaction processing to consensus mechanisms.
When will Pectra launch on mainnet?
Based on current projections, Pectra could reach mainnet in early to mid-March 2025. This timeline depends on successful testnet deployments throughout February and the resolution of any critical issues discovered during testing.
What are the key features of Pectra?
Significant features include EIP 7702 for new transaction types, EIP 7623 for gas refund handling, and various improvements to blob transaction processing and precompile cost calculations. These enhancements aim to improve user experience and network performance.
How will Pectra affect gas fees?
While specific effects on gas fees depend on network usage patterns, several EIPs in the upgrade aim to optimize gas calculations and processing efficiency. The Holesky testnet will specifically test higher gas limits to prepare for potential mainnet adjustments.
What are the hardware requirements for running an Ethereum node after Pectra?
The Ethereum community is currently discussing minimum hardware and bandwidth requirements for nodes. These specifications will distinguish between validating nodes and full nodes, ensuring participants can adequately support network operations post-upgrade.
How can developers prepare for Pectra?
Developers should monitor testnet deployments, review audit reports for system contracts, and test their applications on devnets. Participating in upcoming EIP workshops and following discussion channels will provide valuable insights for preparation.
The Pectra upgrade represents another significant step in Ethereum's ongoing development, addressing both immediate technical requirements and laying groundwork for future enhancements. As testing progresses and specifications finalize, the ecosystem moves closer to implementing these improvements on mainnet.