The Ethereum community is closely monitoring the progress of its upcoming network upgrades, particularly the Glamsterdam upgrade, which is experiencing a more deliberate pace of development than initially anticipated. While the core developers remain committed to their rigorous testing and implementation cycles, certain features within Glamsterdam, such as enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS), are proving more complex than projected. Concurrently, the subsequent upgrade, Hegotá, has solidified its primary feature and is moving forward with its own development roadmap.
Glamsterdam: A Deliberate Path to Progress
Glamsterdam, the upgrade slated to follow the Fusaka hard fork, aims to introduce a suite of significant enhancements to the Ethereum network. However, the implementation of enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS), a foundational change designed to streamline and secure block production by integrating proposer and builder roles directly into the consensus layer, has presented considerable technical challenges. This shift from an off-protocol coordination to an on-protocol mechanism necessitates a re-evaluation of how the network handles potential disagreements or failures between these two critical actors. Consequently, virtually every layer of the Ethereum stack must adapt to reason about "partial blocks" and the dynamics of two-party coordination, a task that naturally extends development timelines.
Beyond ePBS, other features within Glamsterdam are also undergoing meticulous development. The gas repricing efforts, largely bundled together for implementation, are proceeding with a focus on ensuring stability and efficiency. Ecosystem developers have also voiced strong support for EIP-7954, which proposes an increase to the maximum contract size. This EIP is gaining traction and is likely to be prioritized due to its potential to unlock new possibilities for decentralized applications and smart contract complexity.
On the execution layer, Block-level Access Lists (BALs), outlined in EIP-7928, represent a fundamental reimagining of how gas and state access are managed. This initiative is crucial for optimizing transaction processing and is currently being tested on dedicated devnets, which are making predictable progress despite the inherent complexities of such a significant architectural change.
The development team is currently targeting the deployment of the first generalized Glamsterdam devnet within the coming week, contingent on the stabilization of the ongoing ePBS devnet. Following this milestone, developers will engage in an iterative process, deploying successive devnets that incrementally incorporate the remaining non-headliner features. The ultimate goal is to achieve a stable devnet encompassing all planned features, after which client releases will be finalized, comprehensive security audits will be conducted, and the upgrade will be deployed to testnets. Only after rigorous testing and confirmation of stability on testnets will a mainnet fork date be officially announced. This phased approach, while deliberate, underscores the commitment to robust and secure network evolution.
Hegotá: Charting the Course for the Next Upgrade
As Glamsterdam progresses, the Ethereum community is also setting its sights on the subsequent upgrade, Hegotá. The selection process for Hegotá’s major feature has concluded, with FOCIL (EIP-7805) being chosen as the consensus layer headliner. FOCIL’s inclusion signifies a commitment to advancing the network’s core functionalities.
The execution layer, however, saw considerable debate regarding an Account Abstraction proposal. While there is a strong desire within the community to enhance Account Abstraction capabilities, a lack of consensus on specific implementation details led to EIP-8141, also known as "Frame transactions," being moved to the "Considered for Inclusion" (CFI) status as a non-headliner. This decision reflects a strategic approach to ensure that future Account Abstraction proposals garner broader support among client developers and actively involve the wider community in their development. A placeholder commitment has been made to work towards an Account Abstraction proposal that achieves greater consensus.
There is a growing interest in enhancing Ethereum’s quantum resistance, a critical long-term security consideration. Currently, no standalone proposal focused solely on quantum resistance has emerged. Instead, existing Account Abstraction proposals that incorporate quantum resistance as part of a more comprehensive package are being considered.
The window for proposing non-headlining features for Hegotá opened on April 9th. Interested parties can submit their proposals by integrating their Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) into the "Proposed for Inclusion" section of the upgrade’s meta EIP (EIP-8081). A formal closing date for these submissions will be announced at least two weeks in advance, providing ample opportunity for community engagement. The Hegotá forkcast page on Forkcast remains the definitive resource for the most up-to-date information on its development process and timeline. The launch date for the Hegotá upgrade is intrinsically linked to the pace of progress on Glamsterdam over the coming months, highlighting the sequential nature of Ethereum’s upgrade cycle.
Broader Context: Gas Limits and Developer Empowerment
Beyond specific upgrade features, ongoing work on increasing Ethereum’s gas limit continues to be a crucial area of development. Extensive testing on devnets is underway with the objective of enabling significantly higher gas limits in Glamsterdam and subsequent upgrades. The current target for the baseline gas limit is 60 million, but testing at substantially higher limits is being conducted to thoroughly understand the implications and necessary optimizations. Much of the gas repricing work being implemented in Glamsterdam is designed to facilitate these safer, higher gas limits. This increase in transactional capacity is vital for supporting a growing ecosystem of decentralized applications and complex smart contracts, potentially reducing transaction costs and improving network throughput.
In parallel, the Protocol Support team has launched new resources aimed at empowering EIP authors and advocates. The EIP Champions Handbook, now available on the Protocol Support website, provides guidance on navigating the process of championing feature proposals and effectively seeking stakeholder feedback. This initiative is designed to streamline the EIP submission and review process, fostering greater community participation and ensuring that the most impactful proposals gain traction.
The rapid succession of upgrades following Fusaka, such as Pectra, had generated optimism for even faster fork cycles. However, Glamsterdam’s current development trajectory serves as a reminder of the inherent complexities in implementing foundational protocol changes. While the Q2 launch of Glamsterdam appears increasingly unlikely, the single headliner selected for Hegotá could potentially lead to a shorter development cycle for that upgrade, depending on the outcome of the non-headliner selection process. It remains a possibility that the client developer community could coalesce around a particularly impactful Account Abstraction proposal, elevating it to headliner status due to its perceived importance to the ecosystem.
The "strawmap," an unofficial yet influential community-driven document, has played a significant role in reigniting enthusiasm for a guiding framework for feature selection during the upgrade process. This roadmap has proven to be a valuable tool in helping the community align on priorities and has contributed to a more informed decision-making process for future upgrades.
Relevant Technical Discussions and Future Outlook
The ongoing development of Ethereum’s core protocol is underpinned by a series of All Core Developer (ACD) calls, which serve as crucial forums for technical discussion and decision-making. The period between January 21st and April 9th saw a consistent schedule of these calls, including ACDT, ACDC, and ACDE, with numerous individual call logs available for review. These discussions cover a wide range of technical topics, from the intricacies of ePBS implementation to the nuances of gas repricing and the selection of features for future upgrades. Examining these records provides a granular view of the challenges, debates, and consensus-building processes that shape Ethereum’s evolution.
Looking ahead, the successful implementation of Glamsterdam will be a critical determinant of the overall timeline for subsequent upgrades. The lessons learned from the current development cycle, particularly regarding the complexities of ePBS and the iterative nature of devnet testing, will undoubtedly inform future upgrade planning. The community’s continued engagement in the EIP process and the development of empowering resources like the EIP Champions Handbook signal a commitment to a collaborative and transparent approach to Ethereum’s ongoing advancement. While the pace of development may vary, the overarching goal remains consistent: to build a more scalable, secure, and decentralized future for the Ethereum network.
