Ethereum once again postpones the Pectra activation to ensure stability and avoid technical issues. The new activation date on the main network is scheduled for March 26.
Ethereum Constrained to Launch a Third Testnet
According to the main developers of Ethereum, the implementation of Pectra on the Sepolia and Holesky testnets has revealed several major technical issues:
* Errors on Geth nodes, leading to synchronization failures; * Production of empty blocks, compromising the proper functioning of the crypto network; * Lack of stability, making complete validation difficult before deployment on the mainnet.
In light of these difficulties, the developers decided to create a new testnet: Hoodi. It allows better replication of the Ethereum mainnet environment and includes more than 20 million test-staked ETH.
What Changes Will Pectra Bring?
Pectra incorporates more than 10 EIPs aimed at improving several aspects of the cryptographic network:
* Optimization of Ethereum wallets with more intuitive features; * Improvement of scalability, particularly through the increase in the number of blobs for data availability from 3 to 6; * Securing the crypto network to avoid similar errors to those seen on Sepolia.
These developments aim to facilitate the adoption of Ethereum by making its infrastructure smoother and more efficient.
Ethereum Under Pressure: Between Innovation and Caution
The Pectra delay is part of a broader context. Ethereum is indeed looking to accelerate the pace of its updates to remain competitive against other Layer 1 blockchains, such as Solana or Avalanche.
However, this desire for speed faces technical reality: a vast network like Ethereum cannot afford to implement unstable updates. An error on the mainnet could lead to colossal financial losses and undermine users’ confidence. Additionally, too frequent delays could hinder its adoption in favor of more responsive competing solutions.
With this strategic choice, Ethereum prioritizes stability over speed.
This strategic delay shows that Ethereum is focused on ensuring safety and stability, even at the cost of postponements. In a rapidly evolving tech landscape, this approach might prove to be either successful or risky in a fast-paced innovation market.
