Ethereum to Launch Next Network Upgrade in Q1 2025

Ethereum core developers are gearing up for the highly anticipated “Pectra” upgrade, set to launch by the end of the first quarter of 2025.

This significant update will introduce the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) Object Format (EOF), incorporating approximately 11 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs). EOF aims to enhance the EVM code through an opt-in container system, marking a pivotal development in Ethereum’s evolution.

Ethereum’s Next Big Upgrade Coming Q1 2025

One of the standout features of the Pectra upgrade is PeerDAS, a data availability sampling solution. PeerDAS leverages existing peer-to-peer components within Ethereum to ensure efficient data distribution and availability. This innovation aims to bolster the network’s resilience and performance, addressing current scalability challenges.

Interestingly, developers will replace the account abstraction EIP-3074 with a more advanced proposal, EIP-7702, introduced by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin. EIP-7702 allows Externally Owned Accounts (EOAs) to function as smart contract wallets during transactions. Subsequently streamlining the user experience and enhancing security.

“This EIP is designed to be very forward-compatible with endgame account abstraction, without over-enshrining any fine-grained details of ERC-4337 or RIP-7560,” the proposal stated.

Pectra’s architecture includes two critical components. First, the Prague upgrade on the Execution Layer, and second, the Electra upgrade on the Consensus Layer. These updates collectively aim to optimize transaction processing and network consensus mechanisms, ensuring a more robust and efficient blockchain.

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While the final scope of Pectra remains under discussion, some proposals, like the integration of Verkle trees, may be postponed to a future hard fork named Osaka.