Ethereum
After Fusaka, Glamsterdam Sets Ethereum's Next Chapter
04 Aug 2026, 10:05
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With the Fusaka upgrade live and PeerDAS cutting validator bandwidth needs by up to 85%, Ethereum developers are turning to the 2026 Glamsterdam upgrade.
Ethereum's Fusaka upgrade, which went live on December 3, 2025, continues to shape how the network scales heading into the second half of 2026. The upgrade's headline feature, PeerDAS (Peer Data Availability Sampling), removed the requirement that every node download and store all blob data, a change that has cut validator bandwidth and data load by up to 85%. That reduction has made it meaningfully cheaper and easier for smaller operators to run validator nodes, while laying the groundwork for full Danksharding and the much larger data throughput it promises.
With Fusaka's improvements now embedded in the network, developer attention has shifted to Glamsterdam, the upgrade planned to follow it later in 2026. The centerpiece of Glamsterdam is enshrined proposer-builder separation, commonly referred to as ePBS, a change that would move block construction directly into Ethereum's core protocol rather than leaving it to a small number of external block-building firms. Supporters of the change argue it reduces centralization risk and makes the network more resilient to the kind of concentrated influence that has crept into block production as MEV (maximal extractable value) strategies have matured.
Beyond ePBS, the broader 2026 roadmap continues to emphasize scalability, security and long-term sustainability, themes that have defined Ethereum's post-Merge development cycle. Lower gas costs, faster Layer 2 growth and smoother validator operations are all cited as knock-on benefits of the Fusaka-to-Glamsterdam progression.
For everyday users, the practical impact of these upgrades shows up gradually rather than all at once, in the form of cheaper transactions, faster Layer 2 settlement and a network that remains usable for a broader range of participants without requiring specialized hardware. For developers and node operators, though, the shift represents one of the more consequential structural changes to how Ethereum produces blocks since the transition to proof-of-stake itself.
Core developers have cautioned that Glamsterdam's exact scope could still shift as testing progresses, a reminder that Ethereum's upgrade roadmap, while increasingly predictable in cadence, remains subject to the same rigorous review process that has defined its development for years.
With Fusaka's improvements now embedded in the network, developer attention has shifted to Glamsterdam, the upgrade planned to follow it later in 2026. The centerpiece of Glamsterdam is enshrined proposer-builder separation, commonly referred to as ePBS, a change that would move block construction directly into Ethereum's core protocol rather than leaving it to a small number of external block-building firms. Supporters of the change argue it reduces centralization risk and makes the network more resilient to the kind of concentrated influence that has crept into block production as MEV (maximal extractable value) strategies have matured.
Beyond ePBS, the broader 2026 roadmap continues to emphasize scalability, security and long-term sustainability, themes that have defined Ethereum's post-Merge development cycle. Lower gas costs, faster Layer 2 growth and smoother validator operations are all cited as knock-on benefits of the Fusaka-to-Glamsterdam progression.
For everyday users, the practical impact of these upgrades shows up gradually rather than all at once, in the form of cheaper transactions, faster Layer 2 settlement and a network that remains usable for a broader range of participants without requiring specialized hardware. For developers and node operators, though, the shift represents one of the more consequential structural changes to how Ethereum produces blocks since the transition to proof-of-stake itself.
Core developers have cautioned that Glamsterdam's exact scope could still shift as testing progresses, a reminder that Ethereum's upgrade roadmap, while increasingly predictable in cadence, remains subject to the same rigorous review process that has defined its development for years.