Ethereum’s next major network upgrade, known as Glamsterdam, has entered its final development phase. This marks a significant milestone for the blockchain’s evolution. The upgrade is widely regarded as Ethereum’s most ambitious protocol overhaul since the Merge in 2022. It is expected to introduce major changes aimed at improving scalability, efficiency, and network performance.
Core developers are currently running specialized development networks, or devnets, that include all planned Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) scheduled for the upgrade. This stage represents the final testing phase before the code is hardened. Subsequently, the code will be deployed to public testnets, bringing Ethereum one step closer to a mainnet rollout later in 2026.
Glamsterdam Marks Ethereum’s Largest Upgrade Since the Merge
Ethereum developers have described Glamsterdam as one of the network’s most substantial upgrades in years. The overhaul is designed to address key challenges surrounding scalability, transaction efficiency, and the growing demand for decentralized applications.
According to Ethereum Foundation developers, Glamsterdam could reshape many long-standing assumptions about how the network processes transactions and manages resources. The upgrade is expected to lay the groundwork for significantly higher throughput while maintaining Ethereum’s security and decentralization principles.
The Ethereum roadmap currently places Glamsterdam as the next major protocol upgrade following Fusaka. Deployment is targeted for the second half of 2026.
Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation Takes Center Stage
One of Glamsterdam’s headline features is Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS), formally tracked as EIP-7732.
Today, Ethereum relies heavily on external systems that separate block building from block proposing. While effective, this structure introduces additional trust assumptions and raises concerns around centralization and Maximum Extractable Value (MEV).
With ePBS, Ethereum plans to bring this separation directly into the protocol. By integrating the mechanism on-chain, developers aim to reduce potential manipulation opportunities. At the same time, they hope to create a more transparent and efficient block production process.
Industry observers believe ePBS could become one of the most important architectural changes to Ethereum’s consensus and execution framework. This follows the network’s transition to Proof-of-Stake.
Block-Level Access Lists Could Improve Network Efficiency
Another major component of Glamsterdam is the introduction of Block-Level Access Lists (EIP-7928).
This feature allows blocks to specify in advance which accounts and smart contract data they will access. By mapping dependencies before execution begins, Ethereum clients can preload information more efficiently, enabling faster execution and improved resource management.
The change is expected to support parallel processing capabilities and improve synchronization across the network. Developers believe these enhancements will make Ethereum more scalable. Additionally, they hope to help reduce bottlenecks that can arise during periods of high demand.
Gas Repricing Could Reshape Ethereum Economics
Beyond the headline features, Glamsterdam includes a broad set of gas pricing proposals. These could significantly alter the economics of using Ethereum.
The planned changes are intended to better align transaction costs with actual network resource consumption. High-computation activities may become more affordable. Meanwhile, state-intensive operations could face higher costs. The objective is to create a more balanced fee structure that supports future scaling efforts and advanced technologies, such as zero-knowledge proving systems.
Ethereum researchers have also established a long-term goal of supporting substantially higher gas limits following Glamsterdam. This could potentially unlock greater transaction capacity across the ecosystem.
What Comes Next for Ethereum?
The immediate focus for developers is completing devnet testing, finalizing specifications, and preparing public testnet deployments. Once testing is completed, Ethereum developers will move toward setting a final mainnet activation date.
For investors, developers, and decentralized application builders, Glamsterdam represents a critical step in Ethereum’s long-term scaling strategy. If successfully deployed, the upgrade could improve transaction processing and enhance efficiency. Furthermore, it could strengthen Ethereum’s position as the leading smart contract platform in the blockchain industry.
