The Ethereum Pectra upgrade, launched on May 7, 2025, enhances the network's scalability, efficiency, and staking flexibility by merging the Prague and Electra upgrades. Key features include account abstraction for flexible gas payments in tokens like DAI and USDC, smart contract optimizations, and improved staking options, raising the validator staking limit from 32 ETH to 2048 ETH. Pectra also introduces the Peer Data Availability Sampling (PeerDAS) for improved scalability by allowing nodes to verify transaction data efficiently, and Verkle Trees, which optimize data storage and verification. These changes aim to reduce costs and enhance user experience while supporting layer-2 solutions. Following prior upgrades, Pectra is a significant step within Ethereum's roadmap toward achieving long-term goals of enhanced scalability, security, and decentralization. The next major upgrade, Fusaka, is anticipated later in 2025, aligning with Ethereum's evolving roadmap.

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