The intricate world of Ethereum core development, often characterized by rapid iteration and complex technical discussions, is currently focused on the progress of two significant upcoming network upgrades: Glamsterdam and Hegotá. These upgrades represent crucial steps in Ethereum’s ongoing evolution, aiming to enhance scalability, security, and efficiency. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the current status, challenges, and future outlook for these pivotal developments, drawing from recent All Core Developers calls and related community discussions.
Glamsterdam: Steady Progress Amidst Implementation Hurdles
Glamsterdam, the next major Ethereum upgrade, is progressing, albeit at a pace that acknowledges the inherent complexities of its proposed features. While the upgrade roadmap outlines several key enhancements, the implementation of Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS) has emerged as a particularly challenging aspect. ePBS aims to fundamentally alter how block production operates by integrating these roles directly into the consensus layer, moving away from the current off-protocol coordination. This shift necessitates a complete re-evaluation of how the protocol handles potential disagreements or failures between proposers and builders, requiring every layer of the network stack to manage "partial blocks" and two-party coordination.
The execution layer is also undergoing significant changes with Block-level Access Lists (BALs). BALs represent a foundational reimagining of gas and state access mechanisms. Development networks (devnets) specifically designed for BALs are reportedly making predictable progress through these anticipated difficulties, indicating a methodical approach to integrating these complex features.
Beyond ePBS, other features within the Glamsterdam upgrade are also facing their own development curves. Non-headliner features, such as gas repricing initiatives, are being bundled and prioritized. The EIP-7954, which proposes an increase to the maximum contract size, has garnered considerable constructive feedback from ecosystem developers, increasing its likelihood of inclusion in the upgrade.
The development timeline for Glamsterdam is being meticulously managed. Developers are currently aiming for the first generalized devnet incorporating Glamsterdam features in the near future, contingent on the stabilization of the ongoing ePBS devnet. Following this milestone, the plan is to iterate through multiple devnets, progressively incorporating more of the non-headliner features. The process will culminate in client releases, thorough security reviews, deployment on testnets, and finally, the announcement of the mainnet fork date once stability is confirmed across all stages. This phased approach underscores the commitment to a robust and secure rollout.
Hegotá: FOCIL Takes Center Stage, Account Abstraction a Key Focus
Looking beyond Glamsterdam, the subsequent upgrade, Hegotá, has identified its primary feature. FOCIL (Fork Choice Improvement Layer), defined by EIP-7805, has been selected as the headliner for the consensus layer. This signifies a significant step in refining how nodes determine the canonical chain, aiming to enhance network resilience and finality.
On the execution layer, the debate surrounding Account Abstraction has been a focal point. While there was significant interest in integrating Account Abstraction as a headliner feature, a lack of consensus on specific implementation choices led to EIP-8141, "Frame transactions," being moved to the "Considered for Inclusion" (CFI) status as a non-headliner. This decision reflects a commitment to developing an Account Abstraction proposal that garners broader support among client developers, with an emphasis on community participation. The inclusion of Account Abstraction, in some form, as a non-headliner demonstrates its perceived importance for the future usability and accessibility of the Ethereum network.
Emerging trends in core development include a growing interest in quantum resistance. While no standalone proposal focused solely on quantum resistance has been formally introduced yet, it is being considered as a component within broader proposals, such as certain Account Abstraction initiatives. This forward-looking approach indicates the community’s awareness of long-term cryptographic security needs.
The process for submitting non-headlining features for Hegotá is set to commence on April 9th. Developers and stakeholders can propose features by submitting an Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) to the "Proposed for Inclusion" section of the upgrade’s meta EIP (EIP-8081). A formal closing date for these submissions will be announced with at least two weeks’ advance notice. The timeline for the Hegotá upgrade is intrinsically linked to the progress and successful deployment of Glamsterdam, highlighting the sequential nature of Ethereum’s upgrade path.
Gas Limit Increases and the Evolution of Network Capacity
A persistent area of development across both current and future upgrades is the management and potential increase of the gas limit. Continuous testing on devnets is underway with the objective of enabling higher gas limits in Glamsterdam and subsequent upgrades. The current target for the baseline gas limit is 60 million gas. However, ongoing testing is exploring significantly higher limits to fully understand the implications and necessary optimizations for achieving such increases. The gas repricing work integrated into Glamsterdam is expected to be a key enabler for safely supporting these higher gas limits, thereby enhancing the network’s transaction processing capacity.
Empowering EIP Champions: Resources for Proposal Development
To facilitate the process of proposing and advocating for new features, the Protocol Support team has launched updated resources. The EIP Champions Handbook, now available on the Protocol Support team website, provides guidance for authors and advocates looking to champion feature proposals and gather stakeholder feedback. This initiative aims to streamline the process for getting new features considered and integrated into future Ethereum upgrades, fostering a more accessible and transparent development ecosystem.
Broader Context and Future Outlook
The rapid succession of upgrades, exemplified by Fusaka following Pectra, initially fueled optimism for accelerated Ethereum fork cycles. However, the current experience with Glamsterdam underscores the intricate nature of implementing fundamental protocol changes. The features under consideration are far from trivial, yet the commitment from client developers remains strong, indicating a resilient and determined approach to tackling these challenges.
While a Glamsterdam launch in the second quarter of this year appears unlikely given the current development trajectory, the selection of a single headliner for Hegotá could potentially lead to a shorter development cycle for that upgrade, depending on the success of its non-headliner proposal process. There remains a possibility that the client developer community could coalesce around a compelling Account Abstraction proposal, elevating it to headliner status for Hegotá in recognition of its significant community impact.
The "strawmap," a community-driven document outlining potential future development directions, has played a vital role in reigniting enthusiasm for a guiding framework for feature choices during upgrade processes. This informal roadmap appears to be a beneficial tool for fostering community consensus on priorities and informing feature selection for upcoming upgrades.
Relevant All Core Developers Calls (January 21st – April 9th)
The following All Core Developers (ACD) calls have been instrumental in driving the discussions and decisions surrounding these upgrades. The listed calls represent key touchpoints where technical details, proposal statuses, and roadmap adjustments were deliberated.
- ACDT Calls: 76, 75, 74, 73, 72, 71, 70, 69, 68, 67
- ACDC Calls: 176, 175, 174, 173
- ACDE Calls: 234, 233, 232, 231, 230, 229
These calls, alongside ongoing community engagement and dedicated developer effort, are shaping the future trajectory of the Ethereum network. The commitment to rigorous testing, iterative development, and transparent communication remains paramount as Ethereum continues its ambitious journey towards enhanced scalability, security, and decentralization. The progress on Glamsterdam and the foundational work for Hegotá demonstrate a maturing development process, capable of addressing complex technical challenges while remaining responsive to the needs and priorities of the broader Ethereum ecosystem.
