Ethereum developers have confirmed that the highly anticipated Pectra upgrade is set to go live on the Ethereum mainnet around April 8, 2025, following successful testnet deployments.
Additionally, discussions continue about the subsequent Fusaka upgrade and Glamsterdam, as well as how these could shape Ethereum’s future development.
Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade Timeline and Key Enhancements
They established this timeline during the All Core Developers Execution (ACDE) Call #205, held on February 13, 2025, and chaired by Ethereum Foundation (EF) Protocol Support Lead Tim Beiko. Previous reports suggested that Pectra might launch in March 2025.
However, the revised schedule suggests the rigorous testing and coordination necessary for a smooth transition.
The upgrade will introduce major improvements in validator participation and network performance. Before that, however, the upgrade will be tested on the Holesky and Sepolia testnets, which are scheduled to activate on February 24 and March 5, respectively.
These testnet deployments are crucial for ensuring stability before the mainnet implementation in April, which explains the delay. The research, citing Parithosh Jayanthi, EF Developer Operations Engineer, indicated nearly perfect validator participation.
“EF Developer Operations Engineer Parithosh Jayanthi shared an update on the status of Pectra Devnet 6. He affirmed that the devnet is “doing really well” and the validator participation rate is near perfect,” an excerpt in the report read.
This positive progress reinforces confidence in the upgrade’s ability to enhance network usability and pave the way for faster Ethereum upgrade cycles. Previous reports speculated a possible splitting of Pectra into two phases, with an initial rollout expected in early 2025. However, the current plan indicates a single upgrade launch in April.
The impact of this report on Ethereum’s powering token was muted. According to BeInCrypto data, ETH is up by a modest 1.17% since Friday’s session opened. As of this writing, the token was trading for $2,709.
Fusaka Upgrade and Ethereum’s Future Development
Following the finalization of Pectra, discussions have begun on the scope of Ethereum’s next upgrade, Fusaka. Reportedly, Beiko proposed freezing the scope of Fusaka by the time Pectra goes live, aiming to maintain a more predictable upgrade cadence.
However, the Geth team opposed this proposal. They reportedly argued that the timeline was too aggressive and suggested excluding the EOF (EVM Object Format) component from Fusaka.
Beiko suggested extending the timeline for Fusaka’s scope finalization to address these concerns. The extension would allow developers additional time to determine which Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) should be included.
While the final decision is pending, many developers suggest modifications to ensure that Fusaka remains manageable and impactful. Some developers holding this opinion include Besu’s Justin Florentine and Nethermind’s Ben Adams.
Meanwhile, these developments come amid leadership shakeups in the EF that continue to threaten Ethereum’s dominance. BeInCrypto reported that leadership shakeups and internal conflicts have raised concerns over Ethereum’s governance and neutrality.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently confirmed a restructuring within the Ethereum Foundation to address long-standing governance issues. With Pectra’s April launch confirmed, the focus could shift to ensuring a smooth rollout, potentially setting the stage for Ethereum’s next evolution.
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