Ethereum’s ongoing evolution continues to be shaped by its core development community, with recent All Core Developer (ACD) calls providing critical insights into the progress and challenges of upcoming network upgrades. This comprehensive update delves into the status of the Glamsterdam and Hegotá upgrades, highlighting key features, implementation complexities, and the strategic direction for Ethereum’s future. The series aims to distill complex technical discussions into accessible overviews for stakeholders and the broader blockchain ecosystem.
tl;dr: A Snapshot of Current Ethereum Development
The immediate outlook for Ethereum’s upgrade roadmap reveals a steady, albeit deliberate, pace for the Glamsterdam upgrade. While significant progress is being made, the implementation of enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS), a cornerstone of Glamsterdam, is proving more intricate than initially anticipated. This complexity extends to other features, including gas repricing initiatives, which require careful consideration and meticulous execution. Concurrently, the Hegotá upgrade has solidified its primary feature, FOCIL, and has committed to incorporating Account Abstraction as a significant secondary component. The process for submitting additional non-headliner EIP proposals for Hegotá is set to commence on April 9th, signaling a new phase of community engagement and feature selection.
Glamsterdam: Navigating the Complexities of Proposer-Builder Separation
The Glamsterdam upgrade, slated to follow the recent Fusaka upgrade, is a crucial step in Ethereum’s roadmap, designed to enhance network efficiency and introduce new functionalities. The full suite of features under consideration and scheduled for Glamsterdam can be found on Forkcast, a platform dedicated to tracking upgrade progress. Features designated as "Scheduled for Inclusion" (SFI) are highly likely to be part of the final release, barring unforeseen technical obstacles. "Considered for Inclusion" (CFI) features, while probable, are subject to implementation feasibility and compatibility with the SFI components. The definitions guiding these stages are undergoing refinement to better articulate the development process, a testament to the community’s commitment to transparency and robust governance.
A significant focus within Glamsterdam is the implementation of several gas repricing EIPs, which are largely being addressed as a collective bundle. These adjustments aim to optimize transaction costs and network throughput. Furthermore, the ecosystem has voiced strong support for EIP-7954, which proposes an increase in the maximum contract size. This EIP is consequently gaining traction and is likely to be prioritized due to its potential impact on smart contract development and deployment.
The primary challenge hindering Glamsterdam’s swift progression is the intricate implementation of enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS). This feature represents a fundamental shift in how blocks are produced. Currently, block production and transaction ordering are handled externally to the consensus layer. ePBS aims to integrate these roles directly into the protocol, splitting block production into two sequential roles within consensus. This necessitates the protocol to manage potential disagreements or failures between these parties. Consequently, every layer of the Ethereum stack must now account for "partial blocks" and two-party coordination, a change that touches a vast array of protocol components.
On the execution layer, Block-level Access Lists (BALs) represent a significant architectural rethink of gas and state access mechanisms. The development of BAL devnets is progressing predictably, indicating steady headway in tackling these complex challenges. Developers are currently targeting the deployment of the first generalized Glamsterdam devnet in the coming week, contingent on the stabilization of the current ePBS devnet. Following this milestone, the team plans to iterate through multiple devnets, gradually incorporating more of the non-headliner features. Once a stable devnet encompassing all intended features is achieved, client releases will be made, followed by rigorous security reviews. Subsequently, the upgrade will move to testnets, and upon confirmation of their stability, the mainnet fork date will be officially announced.
Hegotá: Charting the Course for the Next Upgrade
Hegotá, the upgrade slated to follow Glamsterdam, has already seen its major feature selected: FOCIL (EIP-7805) has been chosen as the consensus layer headliner. The execution layer, however, experienced a robust debate surrounding an Account Abstraction proposal. Despite significant interest, a lack of consensus on specific implementation details led to the proposal, EIP-8141 (Frame transactions), being moved to "Considered for Inclusion" (CFI) status as a non-headliner. This decision reflects a commitment to developing an Account Abstraction solution that garners broader support among client developers and involves active community participation.
There is a growing emphasis within the development community on enhancing quantum resistance. While no standalone proposals focused solely on this aspect have emerged yet, several Account Abstraction proposals incorporate quantum resistance as an integrated component of a more comprehensive package.
Beginning April 9th, the process for submitting non-headlining features for Hegotá will open. Interested parties can propose EIPs by integrating them into the "Proposed for Inclusion" section of the upgrade’s meta EIP (EIP-8081). The deadline for such submissions will be announced at least two weeks in advance, providing ample opportunity for community input. The most current information regarding the Hegotá development process and timeline is readily available on its dedicated Forkcast page. The projected launch date for the Hegotá upgrade is intrinsically linked to the progress and timely completion of Glamsterdam over the next few months.
Gas Limit Enhancements: Paving the Way for Increased Throughput
Continuous testing of gas limit increases is underway on devnets, with the overarching goal of enabling higher gas limits in both Glamsterdam and subsequent upgrades. The current target for the baseline gas limit stands at 60 million gas. However, ongoing testing is exploring significantly higher limits to thoroughly understand the implications and identify necessary optimizations for achieving these enhanced capacities. A substantial portion of the gas repricing work being implemented within Glamsterdam is designed to facilitate the safe adoption of these higher gas limits, thereby improving network scalability.
EIP Champion’s Handbook: Empowering Proposal Development
To further support the Ethereum upgrade process, the Protocol Support team has launched new resources on its website. These materials are designed to assist authors and advocates in championing feature proposals and effectively gathering stakeholder feedback. Individuals interested in contributing to Ethereum upgrades are encouraged to consult the EIP Champions Handbook, which provides a detailed guide to navigating the proposal and integration process.
The rapid succession of Fusaka and Pectra had initially fostered optimism for accelerated Ethereum fork cycles. However, Glamsterdam’s development has proven to be more intricate and time-consuming than initially projected. While the feature changes are substantial and complex, the client development teams appear undeterred by the challenges. A Glamsterdam launch within the second quarter of this year seems unlikely. Nevertheless, the selection of a single headliner for Hegotá suggests that, depending on the outcome of the non-headliner selection process, Hegotá could potentially follow Glamsterdam in a shorter timeframe than Glamsterdam followed Fusaka. It remains a possibility that client developers could reach a consensus on a pivotal Account Abstraction proposal and elevate it to headliner status, recognizing its significant importance to the Ethereum community.
While not an officially mandated Ethereum roadmap, the "strawmap" published this year has re-energized enthusiasm for a guiding framework that can inform feature choices during the upgrade process. This initiative appears to be a beneficial tool in fostering community alignment on development priorities.
Relevant ACD Calls: A Chronological Overview
The following list provides a chronological compilation of key All Core Developer (ACD) calls from January 21st to April 9th, offering a window into the discussions and decisions shaping Ethereum’s upgrades:
ACDT Calls:
- ACDT: 76, 75, 74, 73, 72, 71, 70, 69, 68, 67
ACDC Calls:
- ACDC: 176, 175, 174, 173
ACDE Calls:
- ACDE: 234, 233, 232, 231, 230, 229
These calls represent critical junctures in the collaborative development process, where technical challenges are debated, consensus is built, and the future direction of the Ethereum protocol is collectively charted. The ongoing engagement within these forums underscores the decentralized and community-driven nature of Ethereum’s evolution.
