Records from Ethereum developer meetings published on GitHub indicate that the network’s next major upgrade, known as Glamsterdam, is progressing through its testing phase, with core features actively being trialed on developer networks between February and May 2026.
Devnet Testing Continues Ahead of 2026 Rollout
GitHub notes from calls held between February and May 2026 point to ongoing experimentation with two flagship features of the upgrade, alongside discussions over which code changes are ready to be finalized for the next stage of testing.
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Developers expect the upgrade to move into public testnets after the devnet phase concludes, before eventual deployment to Ethereum’s mainnet in the second half of 2026.
What is Glamsterdam?
Glamsterdam is a major Ethereum upgrade aimed at improving scalability, transaction efficiency, and preparing the network for zero-knowledge (ZK) based scaling.
At the center of Glamsterdam are two major protocol changes that could reshape how Ethereum processes transactions.
Key Protocol Changes
One of the core features, enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS), would restructure how blocks are constructed and proposed on the network.
Today, block construction is largely handled off-chain, a design critics argue can concentrate power among specialized actors and create opportunities for transaction ordering advantages.
By moving more of this process on-chain, developers aim to reduce centralization risks and improve transparency in block production.
The second major feature, Block-level Access Lists (BAL), is designed to improve efficiency by allowing blocks to declare in advance which accounts and data they will access.
Supporters say this could make transaction execution more predictable and reduce computational overhead across the network.
Glamsterdam also includes a broader recalibration of Ethereum’’s gas” fee system.
Developers are adjusting pricing to better reflect the actual computational cost of different operations—making some actions cheaper while increasing the cost of others.
The changes are intended to improve resource allocation and prepare the network for future scaling upgrades.
No Firm Launch Date Set
No exact launch date has been confirmed. Based on current development timelines, developers expect Glamsterdam to reach mainnet in the second half of 2026, following additional testing and hardening on public test networks.
Why This Matters
The Glamsterdam upgrade represents one of the most consequential protocol overhauls for Ethereum since its transition to proof-of-stake. If successfully implemented, it could reduce centralization pressures in block production while laying foundational infrastructure for future ZK-based scaling systems.
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Glamsterdam is a planned major Ethereum network upgrade focused on improving scalability, transaction efficiency, and long-term infrastructure for future scaling technologies.
There is no fixed launch date yet, but developers currently expect a potential mainnet rollout in the second half of 2026 after testing phases are completed.
Key proposed features include enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS), Block-level Access Lists (BAL), and adjustments to Ethereum’s gas fee structure.
