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Ethereum’s roadmap has moved with a steady rhythm over the past few years - from the Merge to the Dencun, Pectra, and Fusaka upgrades. Each Ethereum upgrade pushed scalability, staking, or data efficiency forward.&nbsp;Now, the spotlight turns to the Ethereum Glamsterdam upgrade, expected in H1 2026. Unlike recent updates that centered on rollups and blob data, this ETH upgrade shifts attention to core protocol fairness and block production efficiency. Today, I’ll discuss what ETH Glamsterdam is, its core features, and what we know so far about this next phase of Ethereum’s evolution.<h2 id="key-learnings">Key Learnings</h2><ul><li>After the <a href="https://www.delta.exchange/blog/ethereum-fusaka-upgrade-everything-you-need-to-know?category=all">Fusaka upgrade</a>, developers are already looking forward to the Ethereum Glamsterdam - the next major protocol change slated for 2026.</li><li>The ETH Glamsterdam upgrade combines two parallel upgrades across the network’s core layers, aligning execution and consensus changes under one coordinated plan.</li><li>A part of a broader 2026 strategy - the network splits upgrades into two releases - Glamsterdam in early 2026 and Hegota later in the year.</li><li>The full scope of Ethereum Glamsterdam is still under discussion, keeping the Ethereum ecosystem closely engaged in the roadmap ahead.</li></ul><h2 id="what-is-the-ethereum-glamsterdam-upgrade-all-about">What is the Ethereum Glamsterdam Upgrade All About?</h2>Ethereum Glamsterdam upgrade introduces coordinated changes across the network’s two core layers. The name blends Gloas, aimed at the consensus layer that manages validators and block finalization, and Amsterdam, focused on the execution layer where transactions and <a href="https://www.delta.exchange/blog/smart-contract-security-why-top-projects-allocate-budgets-to-audits?category=all">smart contracts</a> run.&nbsp;The Glamsterdam is structured as a hard fork - so it impacts both the consensus layer and the execution layer. The node operators, validators, exchanges, and wallets will have to update their software before activation.&nbsp;At the center of ETH Glamsterdam is the Proposer-Builder Separation (EIP-7732), which separates block builders from block proposers at the protocol level. Within the Ethereum ecosystem, this marks a shift back to strengthening the base layer.&nbsp;At Delta Exchange, we’re already tracking Glamsterdam devnets to assess potential market impact for crypto users.&nbsp;<h3 id="timeline-and-what-to-expect-in-2026">Timeline and what to expect in 2026</h3>Though core developers are still finalizing the final scope of the upgrade, here’s what we know so far:<ul><li>Q1 2026: Devnet Testing&nbsp;</li></ul>Client teams are stress-testing bals-devnet-2 and epbs-devnet-0 to check interoperability across major implementations like Geth, Besu, and Prysm ahead of the Ethereum Glamsterdam upgrade.<ul><li>Late Q1 or Q2 2026: Scope Freeze</li></ul>Developers plan to lock the final feature set. If proposals such as ePBS are not ready for cross-client compatibility, they may shift to the later 2026 Ethereum upgrade cycle.<ul><li>H1 2026: Mainnet Activation</li></ul>The Glamsterdam hard fork is currently targeted for May or June 2026, marking the live rollout of Ethereum Glamsterdam on mainnet.So while devnet progress is underway, it’s more accurate to say that execution-layer testnets are already running and consensus-layer (ePBS) testnets are expected soon.<h2 id="core-features-in-eth-glamsterdam">Core Features in ETH Glamsterdam</h2><ol><li>Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (EIP-7732)</li></ol>The Ethereum Glamsterdam upgrade brings proposer-builder separation directly into the consensus layer. Instead of relying on external relays and MEV-Boost setups, ETH Glamsterdam formalizes this split at the protocol level.&nbsp;The result? A more transparent builder market and reduced reliance on intermediaries within the Ethereum ecosystem.<ol start="2"><li>Block-Level Access Lists (EIP-7928)</li></ol>Under this Ethereum upgrade, blocks will declare in advance which accounts and storage slots they access. This allows nodes to process non-conflicting transactions in parallel, improving Layer 1 throughput under the Glamsterdam hard fork.<ol start="3"><li>Censorship resistance proposals - FOCIL</li></ol>Discussions continue around Fork-choice Enforced Inclusion Lists (FOCIL) that give validators stronger authority to prevent transaction exclusion in a future Ethereum upgrade cycle.In short, Glamsterdam aims to address long-standing concerns around MEV centralization, validator fairness, execution bottlenecks, gas instability during congestion, and structural inefficiencies at Ethereum’s base layer.<h2 id="how-glamsterdam-fits-in-the-bigger-ethereum-roadmap">How Glamsterdam Fits in the Bigger Ethereum Roadmap</h2>The Ethereum Glamsterdam upgrade focuses on base-layer mechanics, which quietly shape how developers build and how users experience the ecosystem:<ul><li>Layer 2 rollups can post more data at lower L1 costs under Ethereum Glamsterdam.</li><li>Higher gas limits and parallel execution improve base-layer efficiency for the Ethereum ecosystem.</li><li>Cheaper L1 settlement reduces fees for users on the Optimism, <a href="https://www.delta.exchange/blog/layer-2-magic-how-arbitrum-and-base-closed-the-dex-speed-gap-in-2025?category=all">Arbitrum, and Base networks</a>.</li><li>Ethereum prioritizes decentralization and validator diversity over raw block speed competition.</li><li>ePBS strengthens censorship resistance within the Glamsterdam hard fork framework.</li><li>Efficiency gains build on earlier blob upgrades, supporting large NFT drops and complex on-chain applications.</li><li>Block-level access lists enable more predictable execution and smoother gas patterns.</li><li>Solo stakers can participate more easily in MEV under this Ethereum upgrade cycle.	</li></ul>For crypto trading, the direct impact remains uncertain. This Ethereum upgrade targets infrastructure, so any trading changes would depend on how improved execution and MEV dynamics play out in <a href="https://www.delta.exchange/app/futures/markets">live markets</a>.<h2 id="what-could-delay-or-reshape-the-glamsterdam-rollout">What Could Delay or Reshape the Glamsterdam Rollout?</h2>Ethereum Glamsterdam is progressing, yet a few variables could influence timing and scope:<ul><li>Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation is still being refined. If interoperability across clients is unstable, it may be delayed to a later Ethereum upgrade.</li><li>Proposals to significantly raise gas limits are still under active testing, with no final number set.</li><li>Decisions about Hegota, including whether to include changes such as Verkle Trees, may affect how responsibilities are split among upgrades.</li><li>The Glamsterdam hard fork requires synchronized updates from validators, exchanges, and infrastructure providers across the Ethereum ecosystem. If not, this could slow down the adoption pace.&nbsp;</li></ul><h2 id="the-bottomline">The Bottomline&nbsp;</h2>To wrap up - Ethereum is entering a phase where base-layer decisions will shape its next few years. If execution and MEV reforms land smoothly in 2026, attention will quickly shift to the Hegota upgrade, which is expected to focus on bigger structural changes, such as state storage improvements.&nbsp;Still, challenges remain. Client coordination, feature readiness, and timeline discipline will test the release strategy. Ethereum Glamsterdam may set the tone, but the real measure will be how cleanly the network delivers upgrades without fragmentation or delays.&nbsp;

Learn about the upcoming Ethereum Glamsterdam upgrade, its core features, timeline targets for 2026, and what it means for the ecosystem.

What Do We Know About The Ethereum Glamsterdam Upgrade So Far?