%{{tag.tag}} {{articledata.title}} {{moment(articledata.cdate)}} @{{articledata.company.replace(" ","")}} comment %Crypto traders are bracing for increased volatility in the days ahead as the %Ethereum (CRYPTO: $ETH ) %Pectra Upgrade approaches on May 7. The upgrade is expected to improve the scalability of the Ethereum network and is eagerly anticipated by fans of the cryptocurrency. However, the upgrade may also lead to greater volatility in the near term, say crypto analysts and traders. Many traders see the volatility as a bullish indicator and expect the price of Ethereum to ultimately rise in May following the successful completion of the Pectra upgrade. Pectra should improve the Ethereum blockchain’s scalability and validator operations. It’s an upgrade that crypto enthusiasts have been waiting on for more than a year. The impending upgrade, scheduled for May 7, will greatly increase the maximum Ethereum a validator can stake from 32 ETH to 2,048. Pectra will also begin the transition of Ethereum to the “EVM Object Format (EOF),” a new structure designed to make smart contracts more efficient. Ultimately, the upgrade should reinforce Ethereum’s role as a data availability layer and strengthen its scaling, say analysts. Non-fungible tokens (%NFTs) and %Blockchain games could also benefit from the improvements achieved from the Pectra upgrade. Ethereum could use a lift. Its price is currently trading right around $1,800 U.S., having declined 45% on the year.