Ethereum Pectra Upgrade: Staking Cap Soars, Raising Centralization Concerns

Ethereum has undergone a significant upgrade called Pectra, boosting the maximum staking capacity to 2,048 ETH per validator, potentially reshaping the network’s dynamics. This change, introduced on May 7, 2025, marks one of Ethereum’s most comprehensive upgrades since The Merge. Pectra combines key elements from the Prague execution layer and Electra consensus layer, aiming to improve efficiency and scalability. The upgrade’s impact is notable for larger stakeholders who will gain greater control over their capital deployment capabilities.