Layla Zulfa
Ethereum’s core development teams are diligently advancing the network’s evolution, with the upcoming "Glamsterdam" upgrade presenting intricate technical challenges while plans for the subsequent "Hegotá" upgrade solidify. These ongoing efforts, meticulously tracked through periodic "Checkpoint" updates, underscore the continuous drive towards enhancing Ethereum’s scalability, security, and user experience. The journey, characterized by in-depth discussions during All Core Developer (ACD) calls, highlights the collaborative and iterative nature of decentralized protocol development.
Glamsterdam: Tackling Protocol Complexity
The implementation of Glamsterdam, slated to follow the Pectra upgrade, is actively underway, though its progress is described as "slow but steady" due to the profound architectural shifts it entails. At the heart of Glamsterdam is the highly anticipated enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS), a fundamental change designed to mitigate Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) and further decentralize block production. Currently, MEV extraction often occurs outside the protocol, leading to potential centralization risks and unfair practices. ePBS aims to bring this process on-chain, splitting the roles of block proposal and block building. This means that a block proposer (validator) will select a complete block from a builder, rather than assembling it themselves.
This separation introduces significant complexities. The protocol must now account for "partial blocks" and manage the coordination, or even disagreement, between two distinct parties (proposer and builder) within the consensus mechanism. This paradigm shift touches nearly every layer of the Ethereum stack, requiring extensive re-architecting and rigorous testing. Client developers, while acknowledging the difficulty, remain committed to overcoming these hurdles, recognizing the long-term benefits ePBS offers in terms of network fairness and resilience.
Beyond ePBS, Glamsterdam will incorporate several other critical features. A bundle of gas repricings, primarily EIP-8007, aims to optimize transaction costs and improve the network’s economic efficiency. These repricings are not merely about adjusting numbers; they involve a fundamental rethinking of how gas consumption is calculated for various operations, with the goal of making fees more predictable and accurately reflecting resource usage. Simultaneously, EIP-7954, an increase to the maximum contract size, has garnered strong support from ecosystem developers. This enhancement is crucial for enabling more complex smart contracts and dApps, expanding the possibilities for innovation on the Ethereum blockchain. The current limitation on contract size can hinder advanced functionalities, and its increase will open new avenues for developers.
On the execution layer, Block-level Access Lists (BALs), specified in EIP-7928, represent a foundational re-evaluation of how gas and state access mechanisms operate. BALs are designed to improve transaction processing efficiency by providing pre-computed information about which parts of the blockchain state a transaction will access. This allows for better parallelization and optimization, but their implementation requires meticulous attention to detail and extensive testing to ensure network stability and security. Devnets dedicated to BALs are making predictable progress, systematically addressing the expected challenges of such a deep protocol change.
The development roadmap for Glamsterdam involves a series of devnets. After stabilizing the current ePBS-focused devnet, developers aim to launch the first generalized Glamsterdam devnet in the near future. This will be followed by several iterations, each integrating more of the non-headliner features. Once a stable devnet encompassing all planned features is achieved, client releases will be cut, followed by final security reviews and deployment to public testnets. Only after these testnets demonstrate stability will the mainnet fork date be officially announced, reflecting a cautious and thorough approach to network upgrades.
Hegotá: Charting the Path Forward
Looking beyond Glamsterdam, the "Hegotá" upgrade is beginning to take shape. The selection process for its major features has concluded, with EIP-7805, known as FOCIL (Fork-Choice Integrity Layer), chosen as the consensus layer headliner. FOCIL is designed to enhance the robustness and security of Ethereum’s consensus mechanism, particularly concerning fork-choice rules which dictate how validators determine the canonical chain. By strengthening the integrity of this core component, FOCIL aims to make the network more resistant to certain types of attacks and ensure greater stability.
A significant discussion point for Hegotá involved Account Abstraction (AA). Account Abstraction is a long-sought-after feature in Ethereum, aiming to provide users with smart contract wallets that behave more like traditional web2 accounts, offering features such as multi-factor authentication, social recovery, and batched transactions, all without requiring users to hold native ETH for gas. The debate around a specific proposal, EIP-8141 ("Frame transactions"), was intense, reflecting the community’s strong desire for AA but also the complexity of finding a universally agreed-upon implementation. Due to a lack of consensus on specific implementation choices, EIP-8141 has been moved to "Considered for Inclusion" (CFI) status as a non-headliner. This decision represents a commitment to continue working on an Account Abstraction proposal that garners broader support among client developers and the wider community, ensuring that this crucial user experience enhancement remains a priority.
In a forward-looking move, there is increasing interest within the community to prioritize quantum resistance. The threat posed by quantum computers to current cryptographic standards, including those underpinning Ethereum’s security, is a growing concern. While no standalone quantum resistance proposal has yet been introduced for Hegotá, the topic is frequently discussed, often as part of broader packages like certain Account Abstraction proposals. This signals a strategic awareness among developers to future-proof the network against emerging threats.
The process for proposing non-headlining features for Hegotá has also been outlined. Starting April 9th, anyone can submit an EIP for consideration by integrating it into the "Proposed for Inclusion" section of the fork’s meta EIP (EIP-8081). The closing date for these submissions will be announced with at least two weeks’ notice, ensuring ample time for community participation. The most current information regarding Hegotá’s process and timeline is maintained on its dedicated Forkcast page. The exact date for the Hegotá upgrade, however, remains highly dependent on the progress and successful deployment of Glamsterdam.
Optimizing Network Performance: Gas Limit and Beyond
A continuous effort within Ethereum’s development is the optimization of the network’s gas limit. Gas limits directly impact the number of transactions and the complexity of operations that can be processed within a single block. Higher gas limits generally lead to increased transaction throughput and potentially lower fees, improving network scalability. Currently, testing on devnets is exploring the feasibility of a baseline gas limit of 60 million, a substantial increase from previous levels.
Developers are also testing much higher limits to thoroughly understand the implications and identify necessary optimizations. Much of the gas repricing work being implemented in Glamsterdam is directly aimed at enabling these safely higher limits. By recalibrating the cost of various operations, the network can accommodate more activity without compromising security or decentralization. This iterative testing and adjustment are crucial for striking the right balance between performance and stability.
Empowering Community Participation: The EIP Champion’s Handbook
Recognizing the importance of community involvement in protocol development, new resources have been published on the Protocol Support team website. The "EIP Champion’s Handbook" is designed to guide authors and advocates through the process of championing feature proposals and soliciting feedback from stakeholders. This handbook provides a structured approach to navigating the often-complex journey of getting an EIP (Ethereum Improvement Proposal) considered, developed, and ultimately integrated into an Ethereum upgrade. By demystifying the process, the Ethereum Foundation aims to foster greater participation and innovation from its global developer community.
Strategic Vision: The Role of the Strawmap
While Ethereum’s development process is inherently decentralized and adaptive, the publication of an "unofficial Ethereum roadmap" or "strawmap" this year has revitalized enthusiasm for a guiding framework. This strawmap, though not an "official" decree, serves as a valuable tool for informing feature choices during the upgrade process and helping the community align on priorities. In a landscape where core developers often weigh competing EIPs, a widely referenced, community-driven strawmap can facilitate consensus and streamline decision-making, ensuring that development efforts are directed towards the most impactful and broadly supported advancements. It reflects a growing desire for strategic direction without imposing a rigid, centralized plan.
Broader Implications and Outlook
The current phase of Ethereum development, focusing on upgrades like Glamsterdam and Hegotá, signifies a critical juncture in the network’s evolution. The challenges posed by ePBS, while substantial, are being met with methodical determination, reflecting the client developers’ unwavering commitment to enhancing Ethereum’s core infrastructure. The shift towards enshrined MEV mitigation, combined with efforts to increase transaction capacity through gas limit adjustments and contract size increases, lays the groundwork for a more robust, scalable, and equitable blockchain.
The prioritization of Account Abstraction, even as a non-headliner for Hegotá, underscores the community’s focus on improving user experience and onboarding. Simplifying interactions with the blockchain is paramount for mainstream adoption, and the ongoing commitment to AA is a testament to this vision. Furthermore, the nascent discussions around quantum resistance highlight a proactive stance on long-term security, ensuring Ethereum’s resilience against future technological advancements.
While the "quickness" observed in past upgrades like Pectra and Dencun generated excitement for accelerated development cycles, Glamsterdam’s inherent complexity has led to a more deliberate pace. This is not viewed as a setback but rather a necessary investment in foundational changes. The single headliner chosen for Hegotá, FOCIL, combined with the structured process for non-headliner EIPs, suggests that subsequent upgrades could potentially follow Glamsterdam in a more rapid fashion, provided the foundational work is stable. There remains a possibility that a compelling Account Abstraction proposal could gain sufficient consensus to be promoted to a headliner status in a future upgrade, given its importance to the community. The overall trajectory points towards a continuous, albeit sometimes arduous, journey of innovation, solidifying Ethereum’s position as a leading decentralized platform.
Relevant All Core Developer Calls (January 21st – April 9th):
The comprehensive nature of these upgrades is reflected in the numerous All Core Developer calls dedicated to their discussion and planning. These calls are central to the decentralized governance model of Ethereum, where client teams, researchers, and community members openly debate and decide on protocol changes.
- ACDT (All Core Devs – Implementers): 76, 75, 74, 73, 72, 71, 70, 69, 68, 67
- ACDC (All Core Devs – Consensus): 176, 175, 174, 173
- ACDE (All Core Devs – Execution): 234, 233, 232, 231, 230, 229
These calls serve as the crucible where technical specifications are refined, challenges are addressed, and consensus is built, guiding Ethereum’s ongoing evolution.
