With the release of Pectra, two planned Pectra Merging Ethereum network upgrades, Electra and Prague, have merged into a single, more efficient one. We will release the entire Pectra package in early 2025. Smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) run on the execution layer, while the consensus layer handles proof-of-stake. Petra affects both layers. To summarize, Pectra’s goal is to improve the safety and usability of Ethereum wallets.
Additionally, validators can now invest up to 2048 ETH, with the minimum stake remaining at 32 ETH. The Ethereum development team is now debating which EIPs (Ethereum Improvement Proposals) to implement. The Ethereum website states that the initial package will contain eight proposals. I included here a few of the most important ones, along with an explanation of how they work and the implications for developers and users of their implementation.
EIP-7702 Ethereum Wallet Upgrade
One of the most impactful changes Ethereum is going to have… EVER,” declared Jarrod Watts, a developer relations engineer at Polygon, even though Vitalik Buterin supposedly spent 22 minutes writing it. EIP-7702 aims to improve the usability and security of Ethereum wallets by providing more recovery options in case you misplace your private keys. Your ordinary wallet can temporarily take on the functionality of a smart contract wallet thanks to a new kind of transaction it introduces. You can use another account to pay for transaction costs or combine several processes into one batch transaction.
Gas Fees in Crypto & Enhanced Security
According to Ethereum core engineer Marius van der Wijden, who spoke with Decrypt, users can pay gas fees in various cryptocurrencies, not just Ether, when they enable third parties to do so. Furthermore, EIP-7702 enables privilege de-escalation, which entails signing subkeys and providing them with restricted access.
Some examples of this restriction include limiting the kinds of tokens these keys can spend, setting a daily spending limit, or limiting their interaction with certain apps. UseThis will give users control over their accounts and more security to ensure these new functionalities will still work with future updates for Ethereum; this update builds upon an earlier proposal (EIP-3074).
Increased Stake for Ethereum Validators
The minimum stake remains at 32 ETH, whereas EIP-7251 increases the maximum stake for validators to 2048 ETH. More than one million validators were about 2,600 Ethereum nodes in July 2024. Approximately 27% of ETH is currently in circulation. Having too many validators “can ultimately lead to failed transactions,” as some experts have pointed out, which could cause problems for the network.
The network can be made simpler, and fewer actions can be performed thanks to EIP-7251, which allows large-scale node operators to execute fewer validators. This means the legal stakeholders have more leeway to stake amounts over the minimum and potentially earn more through compounding incentives.
EIP-7251 Reducing Validators for Efficiency
This modification helps to eliminate unnecessary validators, which could possibly slow down the network by increasing the amount of data processing and peer-to-peer messages caused by validator updates. Because validators are combined, the network is able to improve its efficiency and lower the expenses associated with its finances.
FAQs
How does Pectra affect Ethereum wallets?
Petra introduces EIP-7702, which enhances wallet security and usability by providing more recovery options, enabling batch transactions, and allowing other accounts to pay gas fees.
Can users pay gas fees in cryptocurrencies other than Ether?
Yes, with EIP-7702, users can pay gas fees using various cryptocurrencies when they enable third parties to cover the cost.
What is the new validator staking limit under Pectra?
Pectra increases the maximum stake for Ethereum validators to 2048 ETH, while the minimum stake remains at 32 ETH.
How does EIP-7251 improve Ethereum’s efficiency?
EIP-7251 reduces unnecessary validators by consolidating them, helping improve the network's efficiency and reduce costs related to data processing and peer-to-peer messages.
