Pectra upgrade

What it means for stakers?

Trusted by the best

Understanding the Pectra upgrade

The Ethereum network is gearing up for Pectra, its highly anticipated upgrade launching in May 2025. By merging the Prague (execution layer) and Electra (consensus layer) updates into one coordinated effort, Pectra introduces key enhancements—especially for stakers and validators. 

Key Improvements to expect: 

✅ EIP-7251 – Increases the MAX_EFFECTIVE_BALANCE, enabling more efficient staking. 

✅ EIP-7002 – Allows execution-layer triggerable withdrawals, improving flexibility.

✅ EIP-6110 – Supplies validator deposits on-chain, streamlining security.

This upgrade marks another step toward a scalable, user-friendly Ethereum. Read our dedicated blog post to get the full breakdown.

Pectra Webinar: recording available!

With the Pectra upgrade approaching, we’ve been reviewing validator setups — and yours may be underperforming.

To help optimize your setup, we invite you to watch the recording of our latest webinar covering the topic:

Common validator inefficiencies: missed rewards, performance gaps, fragmentation
Our consolidation score (0–100): a unique metric to assess setup quality
How to migrate to a unified setup with Kiln, and boost GRR by 4.9%

Demo: consolidating validators, top-ups
and partial withdraws on Kiln Dashboard

Catch our podcast

We were happy to welcome Terence Tsao, Ethereum Core Developer at Offchain Labs, to our Kiln Rendez-Vous podcast to discuss the upcoming Pectra upgrade.

Terence introduced several key EIPs, including Max Effective Balance (EIP-7251) to reduce validator set size, and EIP-7002 to enable validator exits from the execution layer. He also shared insights into the complexities of implementing these changes, the importance of rigorous testing, and lessons learned from coordinating multi-client upgrades. Relive this conversation now:

Watch the full episode

Kiln Pectra Upgrade FAQ

Will I still earn rewards when validators are being consolidated? Is the transaction fee for consolidation the same as for regular staking?

There's a delay during consolidation, affecting rewards temporarily. The fee for consolidation varies based on network activity; it's lower when fewer consolidations are pending.

How is the withdrawal queue going to be affected by Pectra?

No change expected in withdrawal dynamics due to Pectra; withdrawals remain consistent across validator sizes.

Will there be an API available from Kiln to estimate the entry and exit queues?

Yes, it's already live within Kiln Connect APIs and documented on docs.api.kin.fi.

If a significant portion of total stake is consolidated, should we expect withdrawal delay to decrease post-Pectra?

Yes, consolidation can reduce withdrawal delays, especially as network conditions stabilize post-implementation.

Should I expect the cost of converting 0x01 validators to 0x02 to be high?

Costs will vary based on consolidation rates; initial peaks are expected but should stabilize over time.

On the execution layer, can I pay extra gas to exit faster?

No, paying extra gas places you in the existing queue, affected by its current size.

Will EIP-4844 lower ETH burn rate even more?

EIP-4844 lowers the baseline burn rate by optimizing cold data to cheaper blob space, though actual burn rates depend on network demand.