Ethereum's Pectra Test Faces Another Hurdle, Will the April Upgrade Proceed as Planned?

By: blockbeats|2025/03/06 16:45:02
0
Share
copy
Original Article Title: "Ethereum Pectra Test Faces Another Failure! Mainnet Upgrade in April May Be Delayed, ETH Market Sentiment Hits Bottom"
Original Article Author: DaFi Weaver, from BlockTempo at Dooqu

Following the successful launch of the Holesky testnet, the Ethereum Pectra upgrade was scheduled to be activated on the Sepolia testnet yesterday (5). This was the final crucial stage before the mainnet upgrade. However, after several hours of testing, Sepolia started experiencing errors, leading some developers to call for a delay in the mainnet upgrade scheduled around April 8. This may further dampen the already low Ethereum sentiment.

Sepolia Testnet Encounters Empty Block Issue

The reason for the failure was that developers noticed the Sepolia testnet starting to experience empty block issues.

The Ethereum Foundation stated that this was due to a configuration error in the Sepolia testnet's deposit contract, causing many execution layer clients to be unable to include transactions in blocks. It was emphasized that this was only a testnet configuration issue and not a flaw in Pectra itself. In other words, this issue will not impact the Ethereum mainnet and only occurred in the Sepolia test environment.

Developers from the Ethereum Foundation stated that they "identified the root cause of the problem within minutes" and promptly deployed a fix to restore normal network operation. As of last night at 10:00 (UTC+8), validators had successfully resolved the issue, and network throughput returned to normal.

Despite this, the test still raised concerns about whether Pectra has been thoroughly tested. This is because a previous test on Ethereum's Holesky testnet also experienced issues with chain fork, caused by misconfigured validators.

· Holesky Testnet was the first stage of testing

· Sepolia Testnet is the second stage of testing, which should proceed to mainnet upgrade if no issues arise

Galaxy Digital Research Vice President: Mainnet Upgrade Needs to Be Delayed

Galaxy Digital's Research Vice President, Christine Kim, stated in an interview with CoinDesk:

I do think the issues on the Holesky and Sepolia testnets necessitate a delay in the Pectra mainnet upgrade.

Kim pointed out that while developers may be ready, the entire Ethereum ecosystem, including smart contract applications and wallet service providers, also needs to prepare accordingly. He suggested that Ethereum developers should use this time to establish additional testing infrastructure to ensure the stability of the upgrade.

Ethereum core developers will hold a meeting on March 7 to determine the official launch date of the Pectra upgrade. If a delay is announced, it may trigger further community unrest, especially given the current low ETH price, significant restructuring within the Ethereum Foundation, and competition from public chains like Solana, all putting pressure on the Ethereum ecosystem.

Ethereum Market Sentiment Hits Annual Low

Blockchain data analytics platform Santiment noted that Ethereum's market sentiment has dropped to a one-year low, primarily due to its recent underperformance compared to other major crypto assets.

However, for ETH investors with patience, Santiment is optimistic:

The prevailing pessimism in the community might actually be a precursor to a market bottom and recovery. Once the crypto market stabilizes, ETH could have the opportunity for a rebound.

Ethereum's Pectra Test Faces Another Hurdle, Will the April Upgrade Proceed as Planned?

ETH Surges Over 4%

As of the time of writing, ETH, driven by Bitcoin's rise, is currently trading at $2,275, hitting a 24-hour high of $2,288, up 4.67%. It has rebounded nearly 15% from its recent low of $1,993.

Original Article Link

You may also like

The flow of stablecoins and the spillover effects in the foreign exchange market

Research has found that an exogenous increase in net inflows of stablecoins significantly widens the price deviation between stablecoins and traditional foreign exchange, leads to depreciation of the local currency, and worsens the financing conditions for synthetic dollars (i.e., increases the doll...

After two years, Hong Kong's first batch of stablecoin licenses finally issued: HSBC, Standard Chartered make the cut

The regulated entity is set to launch a stablecoin in the first half of this year.

The person who helped TAO rise by 90% has now single-handedly crashed the price again today

As long as people are around, the story continues. But once they're gone, you may not even find a worthy opponent to play against.

3-Minute Guide to Participating in the SpaceX IPO on Bitget

Bitget IPO Prime brings a rare opportunity for global users to participate in world-class unicorn IPOs, allowing ordinary users to equally access the potential economic benefits of top-tier IPOs.

Top 5 Cryptos to Buy in 2026 Q1: A ChatGPT Deep Dive Analysis

Explore the top 5 cryptos to buy in Q1 2026 including BTC, ETH, SOL, TAO, and ONDO. See price outlooks, key narratives, and institutional catalysts shaping the next market move.

How to Earn $15,000 with Idle USDT Before Altcoin Season 2026

Wondering if altcoin season is coming in 2026? Get the latest market update, and learn how to turn your idle stablecoins waiting for entry into extra rewards up to 15,000 USDT.

Popular coins

Latest Crypto News

Read more