Emre Yumlu 
Ethereum, the blockchain network that kickstarted the smart contract revolution, has entered a new phase with the highly anticipated Pectra upgrade, which went live on the mainnet on May 7, 2025, at 10:00 am UTC (Epoch 364032). This network-wide enhancement introduces major changes such as smart accounts, increased staking limits, and greater scalability through critical protocol improvements.
Key Protocol Changes Introduced by Pectra
The Pectra upgrade implements three essential Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs):
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EIP-7702: Enables externally owned accounts (EOAs) to function like smart contracts. As a result, users can now pay for gas fees using tokens other than ETH, unlocking more flexible transaction models.
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EIP-7251: Raises the validator staking cap from 32 ETH to 2,048 ETH, making staking operations significantly more efficient for large-scale participants and institutional validators.
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EIP-7691: Increases the number of data blobs per block, which boosts Layer-2 scalability and could lead to reduced transaction costs.
Smart Accounts: Redefining the Wallet Experience
With EIP-7702, Ethereum takes a big step toward account abstraction, simplifying the user experience across decentralized applications. This allows for:
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Eliminating repetitive approval prompts
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Automating transactions without requiring constant signatures
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Granting specific permissions to decentralized apps (dApps)
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Streamlining interactions by hiding backend complexities from users
These changes could make Web3 interactions feel more like the Web2 experience users are accustomed to. Additionally, the update paves the way for gasless transactions, significantly improving accessibility for newcomers.
However, not all risks are eliminated. Experts caution that the new structure introduces the potential for users to unintentionally approve harmful actions that could compromise wallet security. Even so, many developers remain confident that today’s smart contracts are built with robust safety standards in mind.
Institutional Staking Gets a Major Boost
Pectra also makes Ethereum more attractive to institutional stakers. Previously, exiting a staking position required waiting up to 13 hours and obtaining a signed message from the staking service provider. With the upgrade, this exit delay is reduced to about 13 minutes, streamlining the entire process for institutional clients.
Transparent Validator Onboarding
EIP-6110 introduces another important change under the hood. Validator deposit data is now directly embedded in the execution-layer blocks, rather than relying on Merkle root voting by block proposers. This ensures faster and more transparent onboarding of new validators into Ethereum’s staking ecosystem and strengthens the network’s foundational infrastructure.
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