- Ethereum developers are considering splitting the Pectra upgrade into two phases for a 2025 launch.
- Phase 1 is targeted for launch by February, with an anticipated deadline of June.
- Pectra upgrade includes upgrades to Prague (execution) and Electra (consensus) layers.
Ethereum developers are considering splitting the much-anticipated Pectra upgrade into two phases in an effort to get something out there as quickly as possible to meet the community’s expectations.
At the September 12 meeting, developers discussed the possibility of releasing Phase 1 of Pectra by early 2025, and deemed the February target feasible.
“If we do split, there is broad agreement that the goal is to get Pectra One out as soon as possible, targeting early next year,” one developer shared on the Ethereum Execution Layer conference. Another developer echoed this optimism, noting that a February launch seems realistic given the potential split.
Developer Danno Ferrin suggested that a split would only make sense if Phase 1 could be delivered in Q1 2025, while Ethereum researcher Ansgar Dietrichs warned that the upgrade would be considered a failure if Phase 1 is not delivered by June. According to Dietrichs, “A split that still only delivers the first half in June would be a failure.”
Industry experts share this sentiment, with Galaxy cryptocurrency researcher Christine Kim noting that the complexity of the Pectra upgrade makes it highly likely that it will be split. She also said that if developers opt for a two-phase release, the scope of the upgrade could change significantly.
What is the Ethereum Pectra Upgrade?
Combining two major components – the Prague upgrade, which focuses on the execution layer, and the Electra upgrade, which targets the consensus layer – the Pectra upgrade promises to significantly improve the scalability and operational efficiency of the Ethereum blockchain.
However, the complexity of the upgrade has led to discussions about splitting it into two separate hard forks.
Despite these challenges, there is still widespread optimism in the Ethereum community. Ethereum researcher Christine Kim and educator Sassal both say Pectra will be one of the biggest upgrades in Ethereum history, with Sassal calling it the biggest upgrade to date.
The final decision on the Pectra upgrade split will be made at the next Ethereum All Core Developers (ACD) meeting on September 19th.