Ethereum's Pectra Upgrade to Be Split into Two Forks for Timely Implementation

Ethereum's upcoming upgrade, Pectra, will be divided into two stages to implement over 20 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) without delays. After the developers' meeting on September 19, 2024, the decision was made to split the upgrade into two forks: Pectra 1 and Pectra 2. Alex Stokes, a researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, led the call that resulted in the division. Pectra 1 will focus on eight EIPs currently undergoing testing, while Pectra 2 will address 12 other EIPs, including the highly anticipated PeerDAS and EOF.

Pectra 1 will introduce Verkle Trees, reducing the burden on validators by decreasing node data storage. Additionally, EIP-7702 will bring "smart account" features, allowing batch transactions and better security for external wallets. Pectra 2 will focus on enhancing Layer 2 scalability with PeerDAS and improving Ethereum’s Virtual Machine (EVM) for faster smart contract execution. This two-stage approach will allow Ethereum to deliver timely improvements, enhancing scalability, security, and interoperability across both Layer 1 and Layer 2 applications.