What is Ethereum's Upcoming Glamsterdam Upgrade?

Glamsterdam is Ethereum's next major hard fork, expected to launch in the first half of 2026. The upgrade introduces enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS) and Block-Level Access Lists (BALs) as its core features, targeting improved decentralization of block production and faster transaction processing. The name combines two simultaneous protocol updates: Gloas on the consensus layer and Amsterdam on the execution layer.

What is the Glamsterdam Ethereum Upgrade?

Glamsterdam represents a synchronized software release that changes how Ethereum operates at both its core layers. The consensus layer handles block production and finalization through validator coordination, while the execution layer processes transactions and runs smart contracts. Both layers will receive updates in this hard fork.

Unlike previous upgrades that focused primarily on scaling, Glamsterdam shifts attention toward efficiency, validator dynamics, and protocol-level incentive structures. The upgrade requires all Ethereum node operators, validators, exchanges, and wallet providers to update their software before activation.

Hard forks like Glamsterdam follow a structured process. After developers finalize the technical specifications, client teams test the changes across multiple environments. The upgrade then rolls out to internal development networks, public testnets, and finally the mainnet once testing confirms stability.

When is Glamsterdam Expected to Launch?

The Glamsterdam hard fork targets the first half of 2026, though the exact activation date depends on testnet performance. As of late 2025, client teams are integrating the headliner changes into test builds. The formal EIP submission window closes one week after developers lock in the Fusaka activation date.

Public testnets are anticipated in early 2026, with mainnet activation following successful testing across all environments. This staged rollout helps identify potential issues before affecting the live network where billions of dollars in value are secured.

What Are the Confirmed Features?

Core developers have adopted a framework for major upgrades, selecting at most two high-impact proposals per layer. This approach keeps upgrades focused and reduces the risk of introducing bugs through excessive complexity.

EIP-7732: Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS)

ePBS makes the split between proposers and builders a native part of the Ethereum protocol. Currently, this separation happens through off-chain relays that validators trust to handle block construction. The update brings builders who previously operated outside the protocol into the core system as first-class participants.

Under ePBS, proposers and builders interact directly without intermediaries. The consensus block and execution block operate separately, with each party handling their designated role. This design makes MEV (maximal extractable value) flows more transparent and reduces the ability of any single entity to censor transactions.

The change also enables asynchronous workflows where payload processing and consensus validation run on different schedules. Each component can be optimized independently, which should improve overall network throughput and indirectly lower transaction fees for users.

EIP-7928: Block-Level Access Lists (BALs)

Block-Level Access Lists require each block to declare upfront which accounts and storage slots it will read or write. Clients can use this information to validate blocks more efficiently, since they know exactly which state data needs to be accessed.

For DeFi protocols and other applications that interact with the same contracts repeatedly, BALs reduce gas costs and make fee behavior more predictable. The feature also serves as groundwork for future improvements in parallel transaction execution and zero-knowledge proof systems.

What Other Proposals Are Being Considered?

Beyond the two confirmed headliners, developers are evaluating more than 25 additional EIPs for potential inclusion. These proposals remain in "Proposed" or "Considered For Inclusion" status and will be assessed after the headliners are ready.

FOCIL: Fork-Choice Enforced Inclusion Lists

EIP-7805 adds rules forcing block builders to include specific transactions, making censorship more difficult. FOCIL complements ePBS by constraining builder behavior and has strong support from developers focused on censorship resistance. The proposal ensures that even if a builder wants to exclude certain transactions, the protocol requires their inclusion.

Gas Pricing Reforms

A meta-proposal tracked as EIP-8007 groups multiple gas-repricing changes that align costs with actual computational work. The reforms include:

• Lower base transaction costs (EIP-2780) to make simple transfers cheaper
• Higher storage costs (EIP-8037, EIP-8032, EIP-8038) to discourage state bloat
• Opcode repricing (EIP-7904) to charge more for expensive operations like hashing
• Calldata and access-list floors (EIP-7981) to prevent block stuffing
• Block gas accounting fixes (EIP-7778) to eliminate refund exploits

These changes aim to make Ethereum's fee structure more accurately reflect the resources consumed by different transaction types.

New EVM Opcodes

Several proposals introduce new instructions for the Ethereum Virtual Machine. EIP-7791 adds a GAS2ETH opcode for redirecting fees on-chain. EIP-5920 proposes PAY as a safer method for ETH transfers. EIP-7843 introduces SLOTNUM to let contracts read the current slot number instead of relying on block timestamps.

Other suggestions include CALLF and RETURNF opcodes for more structured function calls within smart contract bytecode, which could make contract code more efficient and easier to audit.

Future-Proofing Proposals

Some EIPs lay groundwork for long-term protocol improvements. EIP-2926 restructures contract code into Merkle chunks to support stateless clients. EIP-6873 prepares for eventual Verkle tree adoption by temporarily storing Merkle-Patricia preimages in state.

EIP-7919 adds cryptographic proofs for RPC responses, allowing light clients and decentralized applications to verify data from nodes without trusting them. On the security front, EIP-7980 adds Ed25519 signature support for better interoperability with other blockchains, while EIP-7932 proposes a path toward quantum-resistant cryptography.

How Does Glamsterdam Build on Previous Upgrades?

Glamsterdam follows directly from Fusaka, which activated in December 2025 and expanded blob capacity for rollups while reducing node operating costs. Where Fusaka emphasized scaling through rollup infrastructure, Glamsterdam concentrates on protocol-level efficiency and validator mechanics.

The December 2024 Dencun upgrade introduced blob transactions that significantly reduced Layer 2 costs. Fusaka built on that foundation by increasing blob capacity further. Glamsterdam takes a different approach by focusing on how the base layer produces blocks and processes transactions, which should benefit both Layer 1 activity and Layer 2 rollups.

What Benefits Does Glamsterdam Bring to Users?

The practical impacts of Glamsterdam affect different user groups in specific ways. For validators, ePBS reduces reliance on trusted intermediaries and makes block production more transparent. DeFi protocols benefit from BALs through lower gas costs when contracts interact with the same state repeatedly.

Regular users should see improved throughput and potentially lower fees as the network processes transactions more efficiently. The gas repricing reforms will make simple ETH transfers cheaper while discouraging activities that bloat the state, like creating excessive storage without clear purpose.

Developers building on Ethereum gain access to new opcodes that enable cleaner contract architecture and more predictable gas behavior. The future-proofing proposals also ensure Ethereum stays compatible with emerging cryptographic standards and remains secure against potential quantum computing threats.

What Comes After Glamsterdam?

Ethereum's roadmap extends beyond Glamsterdam to Hegota, scheduled for the second half of 2026. While Glamsterdam addresses block production and execution efficiency, Hegota targets node storage capacity and historical data management. As the blockchain grows, running a full node becomes more resource-intensive, which can reduce decentralization by making participation less accessible.

Hegota aims to implement solutions that manage historical data more efficiently, keeping node operation feasible for average participants. This sequential approach, pairing Glamsterdam's production improvements with Hegota's storage solutions, shows the deliberate planning behind Ethereum's development.

Conclusion

Glamsterdam represents Ethereum's continued evolution toward a more efficient and decentralized protocol. The upgrade's core features, ePBS and BALs, address specific technical challenges in block production and transaction processing. With over 25 additional proposals under consideration, the final scope will emerge through developer testing and community feedback. Following the December 2025 Fusaka upgrade, Glamsterdam continues Ethereum's focus on protocol-level improvements that support both base layer activity and Layer 2 scaling solutions. 

Resources

1. Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIP)-7732: Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation

2. Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP)-8007: Glamsterdam Gas Repricings

3. Consensys on X platform: Posts (November 2025, December, 2025) 

4. Vitalik Buterin on X: Comment on Fusaka

5. Report by CoinDesk: Ethereum’s ‘Glamsterdam’ upgrade aims to fix MEV fairness