TLDR
Ethereums Glamsterdam upgrade has entered its final development phase, with closed test networks running all changes before public testnets and a planned mainnet launch in the second half of 2026.
- Glamsterdam is now in multi?client devnet testing with every planned EIP included, described as Ethereums largest protocol overhaul since the Merge in 2022.
- The upgrade bundles ePBS and Block?Level Access Lists, targets a 200 million gas limit, and could significantly cut fees while boosting Layer 1 throughput.
- Next steps are public testnets and client hardening, so users mainly need to monitor timelines, fee behavior, and any risks arising from such a large change.
Deep Dive
1. Where Glamsterdam Stands Now
Multiple reports say Ethereum developers are running closed devnets that include the full set of Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) planned for Glamsterdam, marking the final development stage before public testnets. CoinDesk calls it probably the largest fork since the Merge and notes that this phase focuses on testing, spec finalization, and preparing testnets for wider use. Mainnet activation is currently expected in the second half of 2026, with no fixed block date yet, and the following upgrade (Hegota) already named as the next step in the roadmap.
The work has moved from design to full-package testing, but real user impact only starts once public testnets and, later, mainnet are live. Timing is still contingent on test results.
2. Key Changes Under Glamsterdam
Glamsterdam combines the Amsterdam (execution layer) and Gloas (consensus layer) tracks in a single hard fork, continuing Ethereums coordinated upgrade pattern. Core features include Enshrined Proposer?Builder Separation (ePBS, EIP?7732), which pulls the block builder/proposer split into the protocol itself to reduce reliance on off?chain relays and mitigate MEV centralization risk.
Block?Level Access Lists (EIP?7928) let each block predeclare which accounts and contract storage it will touch, enabling more parallel processing and more predictable execution. According to one detailed breakdown, Glamsterdam aims to raise the gas limit from 60 million to 200 million per block and target roughly 10,000 transactions per second, with developers projecting up to about a 78% reduction in fees for many transaction types by making compute cheaper and raw state access more expensive.
3. Why It Matters For ETH Users
For end users and DeFi traders, the headline impact could be lower average transaction costs and higher base?layer capacity, which should also feed through to cheaper rollup fees. For builders, the new gas pricing model will reward designs that minimize on?chain state, nudging contract architectures toward more efficient storage patterns.
From a risk lens, such a large change increases the importance of robust testnet phases and client diversity, since bugs or edge?case failures at mainnet scale would have broad consequences. Opinion: if testing goes smoothly, Glamsterdam could shift some scaling narrative back toward a more capable Layer 1 that complements, rather than only defers to, Layer 2s.
The upgrade is a medium?term catalyst for Ethereums fundamentals, but near?term user behavior should focus on watching testnet milestones and client readiness rather than assuming instant fee relief.
Conclusion
Glamsterdam entering final testing signals that Ethereum is close to a major protocol step that targets MEV fairness, higher throughput, and cheaper computation at the base layer. The real inflection points will be public testnet performance and how quickly clients and infrastructure adapt, which will determine whether the projected fee and capacity gains translate into a smoother, more competitive Ethereum for both users and developers.
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