The Ethereum Glamsterdam fork enters its final phase: what will change for the network
The Ethereum network is preparing for one of the most significant upgrades in recent years. Development of the Glamsterdam hard fork has entered its final stage — all planned Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) are now undergoing final testing before the launch of public testnets. The upgrade is expected to be activated in the second half of 2026, although the exact date has not yet been set.
Key Changes in Glamsterdam
According to leading Ethereum Foundation developers, this upgrade could become the most extensive fork since The Merge in 2022. It includes three critically important components:
EIP-7732 (ePBS) — a mechanism for separating responsibilities between validators and block builders, enhancing security and consensus efficiency. ePBS addresses the centralization issue in the MEV ecosystem, making the block creation process more transparent.
EIP-7928 (Block-level Access Lists) — block-level access lists that optimize data handling and reduce gas load. This innovation is particularly important for L2 solutions and high-throughput decentralized applications.
Large-scale revision of operation costs — a fundamental change to gas limits and fees aimed at reducing user costs when executing transactions and interacting with smart contracts.
Analytical Perspective
Glamsterdam is not just another upgrade but a strategic step by Ethereum toward scaling without compromising security. ePBS combined with the revision of operation costs could significantly lower barriers for retail users while strengthening the network's position in competition with Solana and other high-performance blockchains. However, success will depend on how smoothly the migration of validators and infrastructure proceeds.
As an analyst, I see potential in this fork for a new wave of growth in the DeFi ecosystem and L2 solutions, but investors should closely monitor the testnets — any delays or bugs could impact the short-term dynamics of ETH.