ACDE Call #204: Pectra Upgrade Faces New Bug, Public Testnet Upgrade Timeline Delayed
In Brief
Ethereum’s core developers held a regular call, providing updates on Pectra Devnet 5, a security vulnerability affecting the Geth client, and Fusaka.
Ethereum’s core developers recently held another regular call to discuss and align on the blockchain’s execution layer (EL), providing updates on the Pectra Devnet 5, a security vulnerability affecting the Geth client, and Fusaka.
A new consensus-related bug has been identified in the Nethermind client. According to Marek Moraczyński, a senior software engineer at Nethermind, the issue was caused by a BLS precompile optimization. However, he assured that this bug would not delay the launch of Pectra Devnet 6, as a fix has already been implemented by their team.
During a previous ACD call, Tim Beiko provided tentative dates for upgrading public Ethereum testnets. Given that Pectra Devnet 6 has yet to be launched, he asked developers if they needed to revise their initial timeline and determine more precise timings for the upgrade activation. Prysm developer Terence Tsao responded that it was “premature” to set firm activation dates due to ongoing issues, particularly consensus problems with Devnet 5, which are important. Tim Beiko agreed with the assessment, suggesting that developers should wait for another week, until Devnet 6 is launched, before selecting the testnet upgrade slots.
Marius van der Wijden, a Geth developer, also provided an update on a bug affecting Geth. As the most commonly used execution layer client within the Ethereum ecosystem, Geth’s peer-to-peer layer and Layer 2 rollups were impacted. Marius Van der Wijden noted that his team had already released a new version of Geth to address the issue. Nodes running Geth version 1.14 or later should update immediately, while nodes using version 1.13 are not affected. In a worst-case scenario, he explained that the bug could allow malicious nodes to disrupt or shut down other connected nodes or peers. A Geth developer named “Felix” further clarified in the Zoom chat that this issue is a “P2P DoS” problem.
Ethereum’s Pectra Development Timeline Confirmed, Devnet 6 Launch Set For February
The tentative timeline for the progression of Pectra was revisited and confirmed. Devnet 6 is set to launch the week of February 3rd. On Thursday, February 6th, developers will decide on slot numbers for upgrading the Holesky and Sepolia testnets during the next ACD call. Client teams will prepare releases for these testnet upgrades over that weekend, and the Ethereum Foundation (EF) will publish an official announcement with these releases on Monday, February 10th or Tuesday, February 11th. The Holesky upgrade is scheduled for around February 19th, with Ethereum developers selecting a slot number for the mainnet upgrade during the ACD call on February 20th. The Sepolia upgrade will follow approximately one week after Holesky, around February 26th. Client teams will finalize releases for the Ethereum mainnet upgrade one or two days after the Sepolia upgrade, on February 27th or 28th, with the EF publishing an official announcement shortly after. The Ethereum mainnet upgrade is expected to occur in mid-March.
Furthermore, as developers approach the final stages of Pectra and its preparation for mainnet activation, Tim Beiko asked the team to begin reviewing the Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) proposed for Fusaka. Two EIPs, EOF and PeerDAS, have already been agreed upon as the baseline for the Fusaka upgrade. Potuz suggested scheduling a Fusaka devnet to test these two code changes. However, Tim Beiko, independent Ethereum developer Danno Ferrin, and EF DevOps Engineer Parithosh Jayanthi agreed that the focus should remain on the launch of Pectra Devnet 6 first. Parithosh Jayanthi mentioned in the Zoom chat that a new PeerDAS-only devnet could be ready to launch in about one to two weeks.
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice.
About The Author
Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in cryptocurrency, zero-knowledge proofs, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.
More articles
Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in cryptocurrency, zero-knowledge proofs, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.
