Ethereum core developers have announced that the network’s upcoming major upgrade, known as Glamsterdam, is set to activate on the Sepolia testnet on October 6. This next phase in Ethereum’s development is designed to introduce several technical adjustments aimed at improving the network’s efficiency and security.
Key features of Glamsterdam
One of the critical changes included in Glamsterdam is the enshrined proposer-builder separation, a mechanism that integrates the handoff between specialized block builders and validators directly into the Ethereum protocol. This adjustment is expected to lessen Ethereum’s dependency on external middleware solutions during block production.
Glamsterdam will also implement block-level access lists, aimed at enhancing transparency by recording which accounts and storage locations are utilized within each block.
Additionally, the upgrade will modify gas pricing, making the costs more accurately reflect the resources required to create and access data across the Ethereum network. The Ethereum Foundation has cautioned that smart contracts depending on fixed gas stipends or hardcoded gas limits might require updates as a result of these changes.
Glamsterdam’s enshrined proposer-builder separation will move the block handoff process into Ethereum’s protocol, reducing dependence on outside middleware and supporting greater security for users and validators.
Preparation and rollout timeline
Node operators running the Sepolia network must update both their execution-layer and consensus-layer clients before Glamsterdam’s scheduled activation date. The Ethereum Foundation emphasized the importance of these updates to ensure network integrity during the transition.
No timeline has been finalized for Glamsterdam’s deployment on the validator-oriented testnet, Hoodi, or for its launch on the Ethereum mainnet. Developers are currently focused on monitoring the Sepolia testnet rollout before committing to subsequent deployment phases.
Sepolia is one of Ethereum’s principal testnets, providing an environment for developers to trial upgrades and applications before they are implemented on the blockchain’s mainnet.
Mini dictionary: Sepolia — A key Ethereum testnet used for staging and monitoring new protocol upgrades in an environment that closely mimics the main Ethereum network.
Looking beyond Glamsterdam
After Glamsterdam, developers are targeting a 2027 rollout for the next major upgrade, Hegotá. According to Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, Hegotá may be the last “normal” network fork ahead of a new era focusing on technologies such as recursive STARKs, deeper automation through formal verification, consensus optimization, and advances in quantum-safe cryptography.
These future upgrades are expected to push Ethereum towards enhanced scalability and advanced cryptographic techniques, which could further reinforce the blockchain’s resilience and security.
In related developments, Ethereum Institutional has indicated support for a proposal from Ethlabs to reduce block times, signaling ongoing discussions within the community about future network efficiency improvements.
