Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has highlighted the platform’s commitment to a streamlined design, drawing inspiration from Bitcoin’s minimalist approach to protocol development. He advocates for simplifying the consensus layer’s core code, focusing on enhancing network scalability through advanced zero-knowledge proof (ZK) and optimistic rollup technologies. The upcoming Pectra upgrade, scheduled for launch on May 7th, will integrate two crucial upgrade plans: ‘Prague’ and ‘Electra’. These EIPs encompass 11 Ethereum Improvement Proposals designed to increase the network’s scalability, security, and user experience. Key enhancements include introducing account abstraction (EIP-7702), expanding validator capacity (EIP-7251), and doubling data block throughput (EIP-7691) to decrease Layer 2 transaction costs. This Pectra upgrade marks a significant step forward in Ethereum’s development, despite encountering some early challenges during testnet phases.