Ethereum's Pectra Upgrade Faces Mainnet Delays Despite Sepolia Testnet Success

Ethereum's Pectra upgrade, designed to enhance staking and scalability, was successfully activated on the Sepolia testnet. However, persistent technical issues on the Holesky testnet may delay the mainnet launch, initially expected in late March or early April. Developers need at least 18 more days to address these issues, with a community update scheduled for March 6. The upgrade, combining Prague and Electra updates, aims to improve network scalability through sharding and Layer-2 solutions. A successful mainnet deployment could pave the way for Ethereum-based staking ETFs, potentially attracting institutional investment. The upgrade also includes replacing EIP-3074 with EIP-7702, enhancing Ethereum's flexibility. The first phase was originally scheduled for completion by March 2025, but delays on Holesky could push this into April.