Ethereum: Upgrade Pectra requires a new testnet.

Ethereum Upgrade Pectra Needs New Testnet – Timeline is Shaky

For the planned Ethereum upgrade, called Pectra, transition deadlines on testnets are postponing. The Ethereum Foundation is therefore planning an additional testnet – and Pectra itself is in danger of being delayed.

Ethereum Developers: Pectra Preparation on Testnets is Delayed

The next major upgrade for Ethereum, internally named Pectra, is facing delays in preparation. On X (formerly Twitter), Tim Beiko from the Ethereum Foundation reported about a situation that demands an intervention.

Thus far, the new test version of the Ethereum software, Pectra, was to be tested on three long-standing test networks: Goerli, Sepolia, and Holesky. But problems keep arising, as Beiko explains. On Goerli, the agreed transition date to Pectra was not adhered to by numerous network participants. For Sepolia, there are technical issues, and Holesky practically went offline after failing to adopt Pectra.

Ethereum Plans New Testnet – Will Affect Pectra’s Timeline

Beiko and other developers see only one solution: The new Ethereum testnet Eliki. Eliki is supposed to learn from mistakes in Goerli, Sepolia, and Holesky and definitely be aligned with stakeholders and Pectra at the set deadlines. Until Eliki is operational and functioning stably, the deadline for Pectra’s implementation in practice is naturally postponed.

A potential delay in the Pectra timeline is being cautiously mentioned. According to Beiko, Ethereum core developers are currently aiming for the release of Pectra in the first quarter of 2024. But due to one or more prerequisite tests on Eliki, the timeline could slip into the second quarter.

Conclusion: Ethereum’s Path to Pectra is Lengthening

For investors and users of Ethereum, this means that the switch to the new major version, Pectra, will take longer than hoped. However, the delay is in line with the strategy of previous Ethereum updates, where developers have always emphasized a smooth transition. The common motto “It’s done when it’s done” is valid for Pectra as well.