Checkpoint #9: Apr 2026

Ethereum’s core development is deep in the middle of Glamsterdam, the next major network upgrade. Progress is happening, but slower than hoped, largely because the headline feature—enshrined Proposer‑Builder Separation (ePBS) that touches nearly every part of the protocol. Meanwhile, planning has already begun for the following upgrade, Hegotá, with its major feature selected and the door now open for non‑headliner proposals. This Checkpoint update provides a high‑level snapshot of where both upgrades stand, what’s proving difficult, and how the roadmap is evolving.

Key Ideas

Glamsterdam is advancing, but ePBS is proving complex. Glamsterdam includes a bundle of gas repricings, Block‑level Access Lists (BALs), and a likely increase to maximum contract size (EIP‑7954). The main friction point is ePBS, which moves proposer‑builder coordination inside the protocol. This requires the entire stack including consensus and execution in order to handle partial blocks, two‑party coordination, and new failure modes.
Hegota is defined by FOCIL, with Account Abstraction still searching for consensus. For the upgrade after Glamsterdam, FOCIL (EIP‑7805) has been chosen as the consensus‑layer headliner. Account Abstraction (AA) sparked heated debate, but no single proposal gained enough support. As a result, AA is currently a Considered for Inclusion item, with developers committing to work toward a broadly supported version.

Why It Matters?

This update reinforces a broader truth about Ethereum’s evolution: the protocol is tackling increasingly foundational changes, and each upgrade requires deeper coordination across clients, researchers, and the ecosystem. Glamsterdam’s challenges don’t signal weakness - they reflect the ambition of integrating features like ePBS and BALs that reshape core assumptions. With Hegota already scoped and the community energized by the new “strawmap,” Ethereum’s roadmap is becoming clearer, more structured, and more aligned around long‑term priorities. The next few months of Glamsterdam progress will determine how quickly Ethereum can continue this cadence of meaningful upgrades.