Ethereum Targets 200M Gas Limit Ahead of Glamsterdam Upgrade

Luisa Crawford May 12, 2026 06:39

Ethereum preps for Glamsterdam upgrade with 200M gas limit floor, EIP-8037 finalized, and leadership changes in Protocol team.

Ethereum Targets 200M Gas Limit Ahead of Glamsterdam Upgrade

The Ethereum Foundation has reached a significant milestone ahead of its upcoming Glamsterdam upgrade, hitting a 200 million gas limit floor. This marks a major leap from the current limit of roughly 60 million, signaling a substantial improvement in network capacity and transaction processing speeds.

Initially slated for June 2026, the Glamsterdam upgrade is now expected to roll out in Q3. According to the Ethereum Foundation, the update will "fundamentally update how Ethereum creates and verifies blocks" by overhauling transaction processing and database management on the layer-1 chain. Glamsterdam devnets are already live, paving the way for testing and refinement.

Technical Developments: ePBS and EIP-8037

Among the technical advancements is the stabilization of enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS). Unlike its predecessor, ePBS integrates block-building separation directly into Ethereum's protocol, minimizing reliance on external relays. This enhancement bolsters the network's ability to handle larger blocks while maintaining security and decentralization.

Another finalized proposal, EIP-8037, introduces smarter pricing mechanisms for data storage. By increasing costs for state creation operations, the proposal mitigates excessive state growth, a key concern as block gas limits expand. These improvements streamline Ethereum's infrastructure, preparing it for higher throughput and sustained scalability.

Leadership Changes in Ethereum Foundation

The Ethereum Foundation is also undergoing a leadership transition within its Protocol cluster. Will Corcoran, Kev Wedderburn, and Fredrik have been named as new leads, succeeding Barnabé Monnot and Tim Beiko, who are departing the Foundation. Additionally, Alex Stokes will be taking a sabbatical.

"There’s a new chapter starting for the Protocol cluster," Corcoran announced via X (formerly Twitter). He emphasized the team's ongoing focus on Glamsterdam, as well as preparations for subsequent upgrades like Hegotà and the broader quantum-ready Strawmap roadmap.

What’s Next?

While Ethereum developers continue to finalize Glamsterdam, attention is already shifting toward Hegotà, the next major upgrade on the horizon. Scoping for Hegotà is well underway, with its focus reportedly on further enhancing Ethereum's scalability and functionality.

These developments position Ethereum for a transformative year, with significant upgrades designed to meet both current and future demands. If the Foundation delivers on its promises, Ethereum could solidify its role as the go-to platform for decentralized applications and smart contracts.

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