What You Need to Know:

• Ethereum’s Sepolia test for the Pectra upgrade faced issues with empty blocks.
• This follows a previous failure during the Holesky test.
• Both issues derived from test configuration troubles rather than flaws in the Pectra upgrade itself.
• Some community members advocate for further testing before the upgrade’s launch.

Ethereum developers initially celebrated a seemingly successful test of the Pectra upgrade on the Sepolia test network. However, complications soon emerged, resulting in critical errors.

This was the second problematic test for the eagerly awaited Pectra upgrade, which aims to enhance Ethereum’s efficiency and user experience. Consequently, some developers have suggested postponements for the launch due to these setbacks.

Earlier in the day, it had seemed that Sepolia’s test had succeeded, but later reports indicated that empty blocks were being appended to the chain.

The Ethereum Foundation attributed the error to a configuration issue within Sepolia’s permissioned deposit contract, preventing several execution layer clients from processing transactions. The developers swiftly identified the root cause and patched the network.

Despite the fix, apprehensions linger over whether enough testing has been completed. The prior Holesky test had also suffered from configuration issues, this time linked to misconfigured validators.

Christine Kim, Galaxy Digital’s VP of Research, remarked, “I believe the problems with both the Holesky and Sepolia testnets necessitate a delay in activating the Pectra upgrade on the mainnet. While developers may feel prepared, the broader Ethereum ecosystem—including crucial smart contract applications and wallet providers—should also be ready.”

Kim recommended that developers take additional time to establish more comprehensive testing infrastructure before the upgrade rollout.

Ethereum core developers are scheduled to convene on March 7 to set the official launch date for Pectra. Any delay could stir controversy within Ethereum’s community amid concerns about a fluctuating ETH token price and increased competition from networks like Solana.