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The highly anticipated Glamsterdam network upgrade, a significant milestone in Ethereum’s Layer 1 scaling roadmap, has been postponed on the Hoodi testnet. The original activation, scheduled for October 26, 2026, at epoch 132,352 and slot 4,235,264, along with a planned increase in the gas limit to 200 million, has been superseded. This delay impacts the entire schedule of events previously outlined for this critical testnet phase. A revised announcement regarding the new activation schedule and updated operator guidance is expected.

This decision comes as a significant development for the Ethereum ecosystem, which has been eagerly awaiting the introduction of key features aimed at enhancing throughput and efficiency. The Glamsterdam upgrade, a fusion of the Amsterdam execution layer upgrade and the Gloas consensus layer upgrade, represents a complex set of changes designed to modernize Ethereum’s core infrastructure. The postponement, while disappointing for those involved in testing and preparation, underscores the meticulous approach taken by the Ethereum development community to ensure the stability and security of the network.

Background and Key Features of Glamsterdam

The Glamsterdam upgrade is built upon the foundation of previous successful testnet activations, most notably its initial deployment on the Sepolia testnet on October 6, 2026. Its core objective is to advance Ethereum’s Layer 1 scaling roadmap through a series of technical innovations. The most prominent of these are:

• Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS): This feature, formalized through EIP-7732, fundamentally alters the block production process. It integrates the separation of block proposers and builders directly into Ethereum’s consensus protocol. Under ePBS, a proposer includes a builder’s commitment to an execution payload within a block. The builder then reveals this payload, with the protocol managing the payment to the proposer. This mechanism aims to reduce reliance on middleware and create a more robust and decentralized block-building market. A crucial implication of ePBS is the separation of consensus validation from execution validation, granting validators more time to scrutinize execution payloads. A dedicated "payload timeliness committee" will attest to the timely revelation of payloads and the availability of associated blob data, enhancing the security and efficiency of block validation.

• Block-Level Access Lists (BALs): Introduced via EIP-7928, BALs enforce the creation of access lists at the block level. These lists meticulously record the accounts and storage locations that are accessed during the execution of a block, along with the subsequent state changes. This granular tracking allows for significant performance improvements. Clients can leverage BALs to read state from disk in parallel, validate transactions concurrently, and compute state roots more efficiently. The combined implementation of ePBS and BALs is designed to provide a scalable foundation for increasing execution capacity while ensuring that block validation remains manageable for node operators.

• Gas Pricing and State Growth Adjustments: Glamsterdam incorporates several Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) aimed at recalibrating gas accounting to more accurately reflect resource utilization. EIP-8037 will increase and separately meter the cost associated with creating new state, while EIP-8038 will update the costs for accessing existing state. These changes, alongside adjustments to intrinsic transaction gas, calldata, and overall block gas accounting, are intended to create a more accurate economic model for network usage and discourage inefficient state growth. Application developers are strongly advised to test their smart contracts and gas estimation mechanisms against these new rules, as contracts relying on fixed gas stipends or assumptions about remaining gas may require modifications.

The Hoodi Testnet and Operator Responsibilities

The Hoodi testnet serves as a crucial staging ground for the Glamsterdam upgrade, allowing developers and node operators to thoroughly test the proposed changes in a near-production environment. The original schedule for Hoodi activation was set for October 26, 2026, at 17:42:48 UTC, coinciding with epoch 132,352 and slot 4,235,264. At this time, the gas limit was also slated to increase to 200 million gas.

Node operators are unequivocally required to update both their execution layer (EL) and consensus layer (CL) clients to Hoodi-compatible versions before the activation epoch. This dual update is critical for seamless network participation and to avoid potential chain splits or missed attestations and proposals. The Ethereum development community has emphasized that client release tables will be updated as Hoodi-compatible versions are confirmed, and operators must verify explicit support for the Glamsterdam activation in their chosen client’s release notes.

Chronology of the Glamsterdam Upgrade

The journey towards the Glamsterdam upgrade has been a phased process, beginning with earlier testnet deployments and culminating in the current Hoodi testnet phase.

• September 17, 2026: Announcement of the Glamsterdam upgrade’s progression to the Hoodi testnet.
• October 6, 2026: Successful activation of Glamsterdam on the Sepolia testnet, providing initial validation of the core features.
• October 16, 2026: Release of detailed announcement regarding the Hoodi activation schedule and client release information.
• October 26, 2026 (Original Date): Planned activation of Glamsterdam on the Hoodi testnet, including the gas limit increase to 200M.
• October 22, 2026 (Update): Announcement of the postponement of the Hoodi activation. A link to a detailed explanation for the delay is provided, urging operators to consult updated guidance.

The postponement on October 22nd indicates that critical issues or necessary refinements were identified during the final stages of preparation or testing for the Hoodi activation. This proactive measure, while causing a temporary setback, is a testament to the commitment to network integrity.

Technical Specifications and EIPs

The Glamsterdam upgrade is officially tracked under EIP-7773. The following EIPs are slated for inclusion in this comprehensive upgrade:

• EIP-7732: Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation
• EIP-7928: Block-Level Access Lists
• EIP-8037: Increased and Separately Metered State Creation Cost
• EIP-8038: Updated State Access Costs
• EIP-8261: Gas Limit Schedule

Beyond these core technical proposals, Glamsterdam also incorporates several other enhancements designed to improve developer experience and network efficiency. These include:

• ETH Transfer Logs: Providing a standardized way to track ETH transfers on-chain.
• Slot Number Opcode: Allowing smart contracts to access the current slot number.
• Higher Maximum Contract Size: Increasing the limit for contract deployment size, potentially enabling more complex decentralized applications.
• Deterministic Factory Contract: Facilitating more predictable contract deployments.
• New Stack Manipulation Instructions: Enhancing the capabilities of the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).

Consensus layer changes accompanying Glamsterdam include forward-compatible data structures, measures to exclude slashed validators from proposing blocks, and increased churn for validator exits and consolidations. These are crucial for maintaining the health and security of the Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism.

Security and Bug Bounty Program

The Ethereum Bug Bounty Program remains active for Glamsterdam specifications and its constituent EIPs. Client implementations become eligible for bounty rewards as soon as their releases are officially added to the client release tables. This incentivizes robust security testing and encourages the community to identify and report potential vulnerabilities. The program details, including reward multipliers and reporting requirements, are available on the Ethereum Foundation’s official bug bounty program page.

Client Releases and Operator Guidance

The success of any Ethereum network upgrade hinges on the widespread adoption of compatible client software. For the Hoodi testnet activation of Glamsterdam, node operators must ensure they are using updated versions of both their consensus layer (beacon node and validator client) and execution layer clients.

• Consensus Layer Hoodi Releases: Operators running validators must update their CL beacon nodes and validator clients. Specific release notes for each client will detail their support for the Glamsterdam activation on Hoodi.
• Execution Layer Hoodi Releases: Similarly, EL clients must be updated to versions explicitly supporting the Glamsterdam upgrade on Hoodi.
• Tooling: Developers of auxiliary tools, such as block builders and monitoring systems, must also ensure their software is compatible with the new Glamsterdam features. The commit-boost client, for example, has a release candidate (0.12.0-rc1) available for testing. Guidance for other builder and validator tooling will be provided as compatibility is confirmed.

Operators are urged to meticulously review the upgrade instructions provided by their specific client vendors. This includes understanding any new duties related to ePBS, potential changes in builder infrastructure configurations, and how to adjust gas limit targets after activation.

Impact Analysis and Future Outlook

The Glamsterdam upgrade represents a significant step forward in Ethereum’s long-term scaling strategy. The introduction of ePBS and BALs promises to increase L1 throughput, making the network more efficient and potentially reducing transaction costs. The recalibration of gas pricing aims to create a more sustainable economic model for the network, better reflecting the actual costs of computation and state management.

The postponement, while a temporary setback, highlights the rigorous testing and validation process that underpins Ethereum’s development. It allows for further refinement and ensures that the upgrade is deployed in the most stable and secure manner possible.

The implications for application developers are substantial. Those building on Ethereum will need to adapt to new gas dynamics and potentially leverage the enhanced capabilities offered by the new EIPs. For node operators and stakers, the upgrade necessitates careful client management and an understanding of new responsibilities, particularly concerning the role of validators in the ePBS framework.

The decision to postpone the Hoodi activation will undoubtedly lead to a revised timeline for the eventual mainnet launch. A separate announcement detailing the mainnet activation date and compatible client releases will be made once the Hoodi testnet phase is successfully completed and thoroughly validated. This ensures a measured and deliberate approach to bringing these critical upgrades to the live Ethereum network.

The Ethereum community’s commitment to a decentralized, secure, and scalable blockchain remains paramount. The Glamsterdam upgrade, despite its temporary delay, continues to be a pivotal element in achieving these goals, promising a more robust and efficient future for the Ethereum network.