The Protocol: Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade Finally Goes Live

Welcome to The Protocol, CoinDesk's weekly wrap-up of the most important stories in cryptocurrency tech development. I’m Margaux Nijkerk, the Ethereum protocol reporter on CoinDesk’s Tech team.
In this issue:
Ethereum Activates ‘Pectra’ Upgrade, Raising Max Stake to 2,048 ETHBitcoin Developers Plan OP_RETURN Limit Removal in Next ReleaseSam Altman’s World Crypto Project Launches in US With Eye-Scanning Orbs in 6 CitiesAztec’s Privacy Rollup Hits Testnet Amid Growing Demand
Network News
PECTRA FINALLY GOES LIVE ON ETHEREUM: Ethereum activated its long-awaited “Pectra” upgrade on Wednesday, marking the blockchain’s most significant overhaul since the Merge in 2022. The update aims to streamline staking, enhance wallet functionality, and improve overall efficiency. It arrives as Ethereum contends with rising competition and internal debates over its direction. A key element of the upgrade involves increasing the amount of ETH one can stake from 32 to 2,048. This change could help speed up and streamline operations for stakers, the vast network of companies and individuals who help keep the Ethereum network afloat. Previously, staking at scale required setting up multiple validators; now, stakers can consolidate up to that amount under a single node. — Margaux Nijkerk