The Ethereum Foundation’s Protocol cluster has released its inaugural unified tier list for the upcoming Hegot-Æther upgrade, a significant step in standardizing the prioritization of Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) across research and engineering teams. This comprehensive evaluation, covering 62 proposed EIPs, provides a transparent view of the cluster’s collective judgment on the importance and feasibility of each upgrade, moving beyond individual team opinions to a consolidated consensus. The release marks a pivotal moment in the development roadmap for Ethereum, signaling a concerted effort to streamline and focus on the most impactful advancements.
This initiative represents a departure from previous practices where different teams might have offered their own, sometimes divergent, assessments. The Protocol cluster, comprising approximately 60 individuals from research and engineering disciplines, collaborated to produce this unified perspective. While Geth, as a distinct Execution Layer (EL) client, will continue to publish its own client-specific tier list, its feedback and that of other teams have been integrated into this broader Protocol cluster assessment, serving as a crucial data point among many contributors. The underlying principles guiding these evaluations are detailed in a companion post, "EF Protocol: Current and Emerging Priorities," offering deeper insight into the strategic direction of the Ethereum protocol.
The Rigorous Tiering Process
The methodology behind this tier list was designed for thoroughness and inclusivity. A total of 397 tier grades were cast across the 62 EIPs, with an average of 6.4 grades per proposal. Some of the most debated EIPs garnered as many as nine individual assessments. This extensive feedback was gathered through contribution templates filled out by nine distinct teams and several individual domain experts within the cluster. Twelve entities provided direct tier grades, with many focusing their evaluations on EIPs where they possessed deep expertise.
The process involved significant collaborative effort, including insights gleaned from two retrospectives held in Glamsterdam. These sessions highlighted critical lessons for EIP evaluation, such as the importance of sizing EIPs by their integration depth, understanding how complexity compounds, recognizing testing surface as a scarce resource, and acknowledging that champions often underestimate the inherent complexity of proposed changes. To address contested items, the cluster convened six group calls and a dedicated 90-minute working session. Further details on the procedural aspects were outlined in a post on August 28th.
Scoring and Commitment Tiers
Each contributor independently tiered EIPs using a numerical scale: S (4 points), A (3 points), B (2 points), C (1 point), and D/DFI (0 points). The average score was calculated based on all cast grades, with abstentions not negatively impacting a proposal. The final published tier represents a "steelman" evaluation – an argument at its strongest and most charitable – that evolved through EIP-by-EIP discussions during the working sessions, allowing for adjustments in both directions. Individual team grades were not made public.
Crucially, each tier signifies a distinct commitment level from the Protocol cluster regarding delivery expectations:
- S Tier (Must-Ship): These are foundational EIPs considered essential for the Hegot-Æther upgrade. The cluster is fully committed to their delivery.
- A Tier (Expected to Ship): EIPs in this tier are highly prioritized and expected to be included in the upgrade, contingent on meeting specific, well-defined criteria.
- B Tier (On the Bubble): Proposals in this tier have significant merit but require specific conditions to be met before they can be considered for inclusion. The notes accompanying these EIPs detail the exact requirements for advancement.
- C Tier (Declined with Concerns): These EIPs present notable challenges or concerns that prevent their inclusion in the current upgrade. The accompanying notes focus solely on these issues.
- DFI (Declined Further Investigation / Declined for Implementation): EIPs in this category are not being pursued for the Hegot-Æther upgrade, either due to fundamental issues, lack of immediate necessity, or being outside the current scope. The notes explain the reasoning behind the decline.
The accompanying notes for each EIP are structured to provide clarity. For EIPs expected to ship, the notes highlight their merits. For those on the bubble, they specify the requirements needed for a tier upgrade. For declined proposals, the notes detail the concerns without further elaboration.
The Hegot-Æther Tier List: A Detailed Breakdown
The full tier list, presented visually, is available on Forkcast. The following tables are organized by tier, then by average score within each tier, with the grade count provided alongside each average.
Consensus Layer Enhancements
The Consensus Layer (CL) is set to receive several critical upgrades aimed at improving its robustness, efficiency, and alignment with future development directions.
| EIP | Name | Tier | Avg (total) | Category | Notes
