When developers await test results from the Hoodi testnet, the Ethereum Pectra mainnet upgrade, initially expected in April 2025, has been delayed.

This decision was made during the Ethereum's All Core Developers Consensus Call (ACDC) #153 on March 20th. This reflects the developers' cautious approach to ensure a smooth and stable upgrade process.

Hoodi testnet to determine Pectra timing

During the call, Ethereum's core team reviewed Pectra's progress.

Instead of confirming the mainnet date, they chose to monitor the upgrade's performance on Hoodi, a newly launched testnet to assess Pectra's stability. This was not surprising, as Tim Beiko, head of Ethereum Protocol Support, had recently suggested this. He noted that scheduling for the Pectra Upgrade would be at least 30 days after a successful Hoodi fork.

"...Pectra will be scheduled 30+ days after a successful Hoodi fork, awaiting infrastructure and client testing. The Fusaka plan will run in parallel, with a deadline of March 24th for EIP proposals, and an expected date of April 10th for scope freezing," Beiko explained.

Therefore, the delay was not entirely unexpected, reflecting developers' cautious approach to ensure a smooth transition.

The main reason for delaying the upgrade is the need for thorough testing. Developers are using Hoodi to simulate real-world conditions and identify potential issues before activating Pectra on the mainnet.

The upgrade will operate on Hoodi on March 26th, with developers observing its performance before deciding on the mainnet release date.

Another factor influencing the delay is History Expiry, a cleanup process expected to operate on May 1st. This change, related to Ethereum Improvement Proposal 6110 (EIP 6110), affects validator deposit history processing on Ethereum.

Since Pectra plays a crucial role in this process, the delay also necessitates postponing History Expiry. Developers are currently reconsidering the implementation timing of this change.

Currently, the priority is ensuring successful Pectra testing on Hoodi, which is better than the Sepolia testnet. If testing proceeds smoothly, developers may move forward with establishing a mainnet launch date. However, they may extend the timeline if necessary.

"Sepolia's Pectra upgrade was hindered by a node not upgrading in time—seemingly trivial, but a reminder: Ethereum's decentralization is only as strong as its weakest operator. If a forgotten node can delay an upgrade, imagine what happens when real money is at stake," a user remarked.

Meanwhile, discussions about Ethereum's next major upgrade, Fusaka, are ongoing. Developers are examining additional improvements to incorporate in future updates. This will ensure Ethereum continues to develop and maintain its leading position in the blockchain space.

Although Pectra's delay is temporary, developers emphasize that thorough testing is necessary to avoid unwanted issues.

The Ethereum community will have to wait a bit longer, but the upgrade remains a top priority. The final decision about the mainnet launch date will be made in the coming weeks.