What is Ethereum’s Glamsterdam upgrade?

The “Glamsterdam” upgrade is Ethereum’s next major network update focused on improving scalability and transaction processing efficiency. Ethereum Foundation said the upgrade aims to fundamentally improve how blocks are created, verified and processed across the network.

Why is the Glamsterdam upgrade important for Ethereum?

The upgrade is designed to increase Ethereum’s throughput and improve layer-1 scalability. Developers confirmed a target gas limit floor of 200 million, which would represent a major jump from the current level near 60 million.

What does a higher gas limit mean for Ethereum users?

A higher gas limit allows more transactions and smart contract operations to fit into each block. If implemented successfully, that could improve transaction capacity and potentially reduce network congestion during periods of high activity.

When is the Glamsterdam upgrade expected to launch?

The Ethereum Foundation said Glamsterdam is now expected to launch sometime during the third quarter of 2026. The upgrade had originally been targeted for June before timelines shifted.

What is ePBS in Ethereum?

Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation, or ePBS, is a system that allows validators to outsource block-building responsibilities to specialised builders. The updated design integrates the process more directly into Ethereum’s core protocol rather than relying heavily on external relay systems.

Why does Ethereum want proposer-builder separation?

The system is intended to improve block production efficiency and help Ethereum safely handle larger blocks. Developers believe embedding the mechanism into the protocol can strengthen decentralisation and reduce reliance on third-party infrastructure.

What is EIP-8037 and why does it matter?

EIP-8037 is an Ethereum improvement proposal focused on smarter pricing for blockchain data storage. The proposal increases costs for state creation operations to reduce excessive blockchain state growth as gas limits rise.

What is Ethereum’s Strawmap roadmap?

Strawmap is Ethereum’s broader roadmap focused on preparing the network for future quantum computing risks. Developers are working on long-term security strategies aimed at making Ethereum more resilient against advances in quantum technology.

Ethereum Foundation advances Glamsterdam upgrade plans

Written by Heidi Cuthbert Published May. 12 2026Last Updated May. 12 2026

The Ethereum Foundation said it has reached several key milestones tied to Ethereum’s upcoming “Glamsterdam” upgrade, which is now expected to launch sometime during the third quarter of 2026.

Developers confirmed a new post-Glamsterdam target gas limit floor of 200 million, a substantial increase from Ethereum’s current gas limit near 60 million, aimed at significantly improving network throughput and scalability.

The Foundation said the immediate focus remains shipping Glamsterdam, which is designed to reorganise how Ethereum processes transactions and manages blockchain data while updating how blocks are created and verified.

Ethereum developers also confirmed that Glamsterdam developer test networks are already live while planning continues for the next major upgrade known as Hegotà alongside the network’s broader quantum-resistance roadmap called Strawmap.

The Foundation additionally finalised enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation, or ePBS, which allows validators to outsource block construction while embedding the process more directly into Ethereum’s core protocol rules.

Developers also finalised EIP-8037, an improvement proposal designed to create smarter pricing for blockchain data storage and reduce risks tied to excessive network state growth under higher gas limits.

Separately, the Ethereum Foundation announced leadership changes across its Protocol team, naming Will Corcoran, Kev Wedderburn and Fredrik as new leads while long-time contributors Barnabé Monnot and Tim Beiko transition away from Foundation roles.

At the time of reporting, Ethereum price was $2,298.64.