Ethereum's Pectra fork has encountered unexpected issues on the Sepolia testnet. What initially appeared to be a smooth transition quickly turned problematic as validators and client teams reported transaction failures and network instability. The issues, primarily linked to a custom deposit contract, have raised concerns within the Ethereum community, prompting swift action from developers and node operators.

Shortly after the hard fork, the Sepolia testnet began exhibiting erratic behavior, with blocks being closed without transactions. Investigations revealed that the deposit contract on Sepolia was emitting two events instead of one—specifically, both a transfer and a deposit event. This discrepancy caused Execution Layer (EL) clients to fail when including transactions in blocks.

The Ethereum team also faced issues with deposit contracts on the Holesky testnet. Unlike Sepolia, where the issue stemmed from a custom token-gated deposit contract, Holesky’s problem was configuration-related.

Though these issues are not expected to affect the Ethereum mainnet, their occurrence on two testnets has raised concerns about the robustness of the upgrade process. In response to these challenges, developers and node operators quickly mobilized to implement a fix.

Several validator clients have already adopted updated client versions that address the problem, and a coordinated rollout of the fix was scheduled for 2 PM UTC. A live Zoom call was planned to facilitate this update and minimize network disruptions.

Additionally, known releases addressing the issue include:

The Ethereum testing team has validated the fixes, and client teams continue working to ensure the issue is completely resolved before any further disruptions occur. The Sepolia incident has led some community members to call for a delay in Pectra’s deployment on the Ethereum mainnet.

Given the difficulties faced on Sepolia, there are fears that even the mainnet might not fully adhere to its specifications. While Ethereum’s core developers remain confident in the fix and its implementation, they acknowledge the need for thorough testing and coordinated deployment to prevent future issues.

A blog post detailing the situation is expected to be released soon, providing further clarity on the path forward.

The Ethereum community’s swift response and coordinated efforts demonstrate the resilience of the ecosystem. However, these events serve as a reminder of the complexities involved in blockchain development and the importance of meticulous testing before mainnet deployment.

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