Ethereum’s Glamsterdam Upgrade Moves Closer to Public Testing
Ethereum developers are advancing the Glamsterdam upgrade, with progress reported on EIP 7928, which concerns Block Level Access Lists. A Sepolia fork is scheduled for October 6, 2026, while the mainnet transition is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, though no official date has been announced. The upgrade is intended to speed transactions, expand network capacity, and reduce database growth, with ePBS and BALs playing key roles.
Ethereum Foundation researcher Toni Wahrstatter reported progress on EIP 7928, which centers on Block Level Access Lists. Developer-network trials continue, and a Sepolia fork is set for October 6, 2026; mainnet is expected in Q4 2026, though no official date exists. Wahrstatter suggests Glamsterdam may rank among Ethereum’s largest forks.
The upgrade targets faster transactions, greater capacity, and slower database growth. ePBS and BALs are central: the former reshapes block verification, while the latter support parallel processing. Vitalik Buterin has also outlined a post-Hegota direction involving hybrid blockchain-cryptography architecture, recursive STARKs, formal verification, and quantum-resistant consensus aims.
If Glamsterdam reaches mainnet, everyday users, developers, and node operators could see faster transactions, more network capacity, and slower database growth. Lower resource demands may make participation easier, while expanded throughput could support more consumer and business applications. Because the mainnet date remains unannounced, these effects are uncertain and may arrive gradually, depending on testing outcomes and ecosystem readiness.