Deep Dive
1. Glamsterdam Upgrade (H1 2026)
Overview: This is a major infrastructure upgrade targeting a significant increase in network capacity. It plans to raise the gas limit per block, allowing more transactions and lower fees.
The upgrade centers on two core innovations. First, it implements Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS, EIP-7732), which separates the roles of block proposal and construction to reduce centralization risks and enhance censorship resistance. Second, it introduces Block-level Access Lists (BALs), allowing nodes to pre-compute which parts of the network state a transaction will change. This enables parallel transaction processing, making better use of modern hardware and significantly boosting throughput.
What this means: This is bullish for Ethereum because it directly addresses scalability at the base layer. Users can expect cheaper and faster transactions, while the network becomes more resilient and decentralized. The changes pave the way for more complex and high-volume applications.
(Bit2Me News)
2. EIP-12188 Proposal (August 2026)
Overview: This is a draft proposal to reduce the amount of historical block data that consensus layer clients must store, aiming to ease the hardware requirements for running a node.
Currently, nodes store extensive historical data. EIP-12188 proposes a mechanism to prune this data after a certain period, significantly reducing the disk space needed. This change would not affect the ability to verify recent transactions or the security of the chain.
What this means: This is neutral to bullish for Ethereum. It lowers the barrier to entry for new validators, promoting network decentralization and health. For everyday users, a more distributed and robust network means greater long-term security and reliability.
(CoinMarketCap)
3. Fusaka Upgrade (December 2025)
Overview: Activated on mainnet, Fusaka was a large-scale infrastructure update that enhanced data handling for Layer 2 rollups and reformed smart contract structure.
Its key feature was Peer Data Availability Sampling (PeerDAS), which allows validator nodes to verify the availability of rollup data by sampling small pieces instead of downloading entire blobs. This efficiently scales data capacity without demanding more powerful hardware. It also introduced the EVM Object Format (EOF), which restructures contract code for safer and more predictable execution.
What this means: This was bullish for Ethereum as it laid the groundwork for cheaper Layer 2 transactions. Users of apps on networks like Arbitrum or Base benefit from lower fees, while developers gain tools to build more secure and efficient smart contracts.
(CoinMarketCap)
Conclusion
Ethereum's development trajectory is firmly focused on scaling its base layer while hardening security and improving user experience, with Glamsterdam representing the next major step in this evolution. How will the proposed efficiency gains from upgrades like Hegotá further reshape the network's capabilities?