Ethereum 
$3,327 developers are considering splitting the Pectra upgrade into two phases, which is expected to enhance the network’s efficiency and scalability. The first phase is anticipated to launch in early 2025.
Developers Aim for Early Delivery
During the Ethereum execution layer meeting on September 12, a developer indicated that if the upgrade is split, the goal is to release the first part as soon as possible, ideally in early next year.
“If we split, we want to release the first part of Pectra as soon as possible, ideally early next year,” stated an Ethereum developer.
Another developer expressed, “February seems realistic for a split Pectra,” suggesting a timeline for the rollout.
Developer Danno Ferrin added, “It only makes sense to consider a split if delivery is thought to be in the first quarter.”
Splitting the Upgrade Reduces Risk
It has been suggested that dividing the upgrade may present a safer option, as smaller forks typically carry less risk.
The Pectra upgrade combines two separate upgrades: Prague and Electra. While the Prague upgrade focuses on modifications in the execution layer, the Electra upgrade impacts the consensus layer.
Galaxy crypto researcher Christine Kim believes that due to the complexity of the current Pectra fork and the desire to add more to the upgrade, a split is likely.
“If developers split the upgrade into two hard forks, the scope of the Pectra upgrade could dramatically change,” Kim added.
The Industry Views Pectra Upgrade Optimistically
Developers will make the final decision on this matter during the next Ethereum All Core Developers (ACD) call on September 19.
Kim previously noted that the Pectra upgrade is shaping up to be the largest upgrade in Ethereum’s history.
Ethereum educator Sassal shared a similar view: “Pectra is on track to be the next network upgrade, the largest in Ethereum’s history,” he stated to his 254,500 followers.
In April 2024, Cointelegraph reported that Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 3074 was approved to be included in the next update. This proposal allows regular crypto wallets to operate like smart contracts.
One of the functions of EIP-3074 is to provide smart contract capabilities to standard external accounts (EOA), such as ordinary wallets like MetaMask. This feature enables transaction bundling, requiring users to sign only once, and allows a wallet to allocate funds for use by another wallet.
The division of the Pectra upgrade presents both opportunities and challenges for the Ethereum community. While a quicker and less risky update can contribute to the network’s short-term growth, the expansion of scope and increased complexity may affect long-term goals. The decisions made by developers will be critical in determining the future scalability and functionality level of Ethereum.
