Berachain Taps Ethereum’s Pectra Playbook With ‘Bectra’ Upgrade

Berachain is gearing up to be the first non-Ethereum Layer-1 blockchain to fully activate Pectra’s new execution-layer features.

Its Bectra hard fork goes live Wednesday, giving more than 100 apps on the chain access to tools that could enhance how users and developers interact with the platform.

This a step forward for Berachain, an EVM-identical chain that uses a unique Proof-of-Liquidity consensus model.

Because Berachain’s consensus model is different from Ethereum’s, it doesn’t include Pectra’s consensus changes. But since it’s EVM-compatible, developers don’t need to rewrite existing contracts — a relief for the 200-plus apps already live on the network.

Proof of Liquidity (PoL) is a way for blockchains like Berachain to secure their network by rewarding users who provide liquidity, like money or tokens, instead of just staking coins to secure the network (like in Proof of Stake).

This makes the system strong and stable because it encourages people to put their assets to work, which helps the blockchain grow and be more secure.

For users, the Bectra upgrade means every wallet can now work like a smart account. They will be able to batch transactions in one click, set spending limits, pay gas with HONEY (Berachain’s stablecoin), or even set up recurring payments. Previously, these features needed custom contracts or third-party implementations (which have security concerns).

The Bectra upgrade demonstrates how chains like Berachain are striving to keep pace with Ethereum’s rapid development, particularly as rollups gain momentum and other chains seek to differentiate themselves in the crowded EVM landscape.

Berachain’s BERA is down 2% in the past 24 hours alongside with a slight drop in the broader market.