What is the Glamsterdam upgrade - and what does it mean for ETH investors?
Glamsterdam is Ethereum's next scheduled hard fork - its biggest protocol change since The Merge in September 2022. Targeting end of August 2026, it introduces parallel transaction processing, on-chain block-building, and a gas repricing package projected to cut L1 fees by approximately 78.6%.
Key Takeaway
- Glamsterdam is Ethereum's biggest hard fork since The Merge - targeting mainnet activation at end of August 2026 (Q3 base case).
- Three headline changes: EIP-7732 (ePBS - block-building on-chain, up to 70% less MEV), EIP-7928 (BALs - parallel execution, 10,000 TPS target), EIP-7904 (gas repricing, ~78.6% fee reduction).
- The name combines Gloas (consensus-layer upgrade, referring to the Gloas star) and Amsterdam (execution-layer upgrade, named after the city). (Everstake, June 2026.)
- ETH holders need to take no action. Stakers and node operators must update both consensus-layer and execution-layer clients before mainnet activation.
- The Sepolia and Hoodi public testnet activations are the clearest leading indicator of when mainnet is imminent.
- Glamsterdam does not fully resolve L2 fee cannibalism - the structural challenge to ETH's value accrual remains.
Glamsterdam is Ethereum's next scheduled hard fork - its biggest protocol change since The Merge in September 2022. Targeted for the end of August 2026 (Q3), it introduces two headline architectural changes: Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS), which moves block-building on-chain and reduces MEV extraction by up to 70%; and Block-Level Access Lists (BALs), which enable parallel transaction processing and push the gas limit from 60 million to 200 million, targeting 10,000 transactions per second.
A third package of gas repricing changes is projected to cut L1 fees by approximately 78.6%. For ETH holders, validators, and anyone using Ethereum-based DeFi, this is the upgrade that determines whether Ethereum's Layer 1 can compete with Solana on throughput while remaining the world's most decentralised smart contract platform.
10,000 TPS
Target throughput - 10x current Ethereum mainnet (Bitfinex Blog, 2026)
-78.6%
Projected L1 gas fee reduction via EIP-7904 repricing (ethereum.org, 2026)
End Aug 2026
Target mainnet activation - Q3 2026 base case (Everstake, CoinMarketCap)
What does 'Glamsterdam' mean?
Ethereum has historically named its hard forks by pairing a star name with the city that hosted the most recent Devconnect developer conference. Glamsterdam is a portmanteau of two names: Gloas, the consensus-layer component (referring to the Gloas star), and Amsterdam, the execution-layer component, named after the Dutch city. The consensus layer handles Ethereum's proof-of-stake mechanism; the execution layer handles transaction processing, smart contract execution, and fee calculation. Glamsterdam upgrades both simultaneously. (Everstake, June 2026.)
The three headline changes - and what each one does
Glamsterdam bundles three major EIP clusters, each targeting a distinct problem with the current Ethereum architecture.
| EIP | Feature | What it changes | What it means for investors and users |
| EIP-7732 | ePBS - Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation | Moves block-building from off-chain relays into the Ethereum protocol itself. Builders cryptographically commit to a block and bid for the right to build it. Validators select the highest bid without seeing contents. | Up to 70% less MEV extraction - fewer sandwich attacks, less front-running. Eliminates 80-90% centralisation on MEV-Boost relays. Expands data propagation window from 2s to ~9s. (Everstake, Bitfinex Blog, June 2026) |
| EIP-7928 | BALs - Block-Level Access Lists | Enables parallel transaction execution by pre-fetching the state data each transaction needs before execution begins. Gas limit rises from 60M to 200M per block in two phases. | Primary mechanism behind the 10,000 TPS target. More capacity per block means lower average fees during high-demand periods. Matches Solana real-world throughput. (Bitfinex Blog, Everstake, 2026) |
| EIP-7904 | General Gas Repricing | Realigns opcode costs with actual computational resource usage on modern hardware. Additional EIPs (8011: multidimensional gas metering; 8032: size-based storage pricing) complete the package. | ~78.6% reduction in L1 fees across both simple ETH transfers and complex smart contract calls. Makes the base layer commercially viable for use cases currently priced out to L2s. (ethereum.org, Phemex, 2026) |
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Glamsterdam timeline - where we are now
| When | Milestone | What to watch |
| May 2026 | Soldøgn interop devnet | Concluded 2 May 2026. Stable multi-client Glamsterdam devnet confirmed. Marks transition from single-client to multi-client testing. (Everstake, June 2026) |
| Jun-Jul 2026 | Sepolia and Hoodi testnet activations | Public testnet launches are the most reliable leading indicator of mainnet readiness. Once both pass without major issues, a mainnet date follows quickly. Watch core developer ACD call announcements. |
| Aug 2026 | Mainnet activation target | Everstake cites end of August 2026 as the current best estimate; CoinMarketCap and Figment confirm Q3 as the base case. No block height has been set yet. |
| H2 2026 | Hegota upgrade | Follow-on hard fork to Glamsterdam. Headline features: FOCIL (censorship resistance), Verkle Trees (state storage efficiency), and expanded account abstraction. (Phemex, 2026) |
Sources: Everstake (June 2026); CoinMarketCap (May 2026); Figment (May 2026). Timeline estimates may change.
What Glamsterdam means for ETH investors
For most ETH holders, Glamsterdam requires no action - wallets, balances, and user-facing interfaces are unaffected. But the upgrade has significant implications for Ethereum as an investment thesis and as a network.
1. Pre-upgrade signals (historically bullish)
Historical Ethereum upgrades show consistent pre-fork price appreciation as investors position ahead of the catalyst. The Merge, Shapella, and Pectra all followed this pattern. Separately, 475,000 ETH left major exchanges between 4-7 June 2026 - a significant on-chain accumulation signal (CoinMarketCap, June 2026). Approximately 30% of all circulating ETH (~35-37 million coins) is currently staked and locked, structurally reducing available sell-side supply. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
2. Post-upgrade risks to understand
Sell-the-news pullback: historical data shows ETH typically drops 10-15% in the days after a major upgrade activates as pre-positioned investors take profits. Delay risk is real - Glamsterdam's scope is larger than Pectra or Fusaka, and the interplay between ePBS and BALs has not been tested at mainnet scale. Everstake cites three specific delay risks: ePBS complexity, cross-client parity, and gas repricing under real load. L2 fee cannibalism is a structural issue Glamsterdam does not fully resolve. Not investment advice.
Quick fact
Fact: Do I need to do anything as an ETH holder?
No. ETH holders - including anyone who holds ETH in a wallet, exchange account, or ETF - need to take no action. Glamsterdam does not change wallet addresses, balances, or any user-facing interface. If you are a validator or node operator, you will need to update both your consensus-layer client and execution-layer client before mainnet activation. Failing to update would cause your node to diverge from the main chain. (Everstake, June 2026.)
Ethereum glamsterdam upgrade - summed up
- Glamsterdam is Ethereum's biggest hard fork since The Merge - targeting mainnet activation end of August 2026.
- EIP-7732 (ePBS): block-building moves on-chain, up to 70% less MEV extraction.
- EIP-7928 (BALs): parallel execution, gas limit 60M to 200M, targeting 10,000 TPS.
- EIP-7904: general gas repricing, ~78.6% lower L1 fees.
- ETH holders: no action required. Validators: update to new client versions before mainnet.
- Watch: Sepolia and Hoodi testnet activations - the clearest signal mainnet is imminent.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Glamsterdam Ethereum upgrade?
Glamsterdam is Ethereum's next scheduled hard fork, following Pectra and Fusaka (both shipped in 2025). Targeted for Q3 2026 - specifically end of August. It introduces Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (EIP-7732, reduces MEV by up to 70%), Block-Level Access Lists (EIP-7928, targets 10,000 TPS), and a gas repricing package (EIP-7904, ~78.6% lower L1 fees). It is the most significant Ethereum protocol change since The Merge in September 2022.
When is the Ethereum Glamsterdam upgrade date?
The Ethereum Foundation's roadmap targets Q3 2026 for Glamsterdam mainnet activation. Everstake's June 2026 technical review cites end of August 2026 as the current best estimate. The upgrade was originally targeted for June 2026 but was pushed back after the Soldøgn interop devnet concluded on 2 May 2026. No specific block height has been announced. The clearest leading indicator: Sepolia and Hoodi public testnet activations.
What is ePBS and why does it matter?
ePBS stands for Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation. Currently, Ethereum validators outsource block construction to specialist builders via off-chain relay networks - approximately 80-90% of Ethereum blocks are built through these relays. Under ePBS (EIP-7732), this process moves on-chain. Builders cryptographically commit to a block and bid for the right to build it. Validators select the highest bid without seeing transaction contents. For traders, the most immediate effect is up to 70% less MEV extraction - fewer sandwich attacks, less front-running, fairer execution on DeFi protocols.
Will Glamsterdam lower Ethereum gas fees?
Yes - both through increased capacity and through explicit repricing. EIP-7928 enables the gas limit to rise from 60 million to 200 million per block, meaning more transactions fit in each block and average fees fall during high-demand periods. EIP-7904 realigns opcode costs with actual computational resource usage, producing an estimated 78.6% reduction in L1 fees. The ethereum.org roadmap page confirms Glamsterdam will most likely reduce fees for everyday users
Do I need to do anything as an ETH holder?
No. ETH holders - including anyone who holds ETH in a wallet, exchange account, or ETF - need to take no action. Glamsterdam does not change wallet addresses, balances, or any user-facing interface. Your ETH is unaffected. If you are a validator or node operator, you will need to update both your consensus-layer client (Lighthouse, Prysm, Teku, Nimbus, or Lodestar) and your execution-layer client (Geth, Nethermind, Besu, Erigon, or Reth) before mainnet activation. (Everstake, June 2026.)
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