Ethereum Postpones Glamsterdam Upgrade Amid Smart Contract Safety Concerns

The Current Status of the Ethereum Upgrade

The Ethereum network is currently facing a delay in advancing with its upcoming upgrade dubbed Glamsterdam, which is crucial for enhancing its capabilities. The situation arose after core developers paused the Hoodi testnet, which was intended to simulate conditions ahead of the mainnet upgrade. The primary hurdle stems from EIP-8037, a proposal that alters the gas pricing structure associated with creating new state within blockchain transactions. Developers seek further assurances that existing contracts on the mainnet won't encounter issues under these new parameters before progressing with the upgrade. As of November 6, 2026, the Ethereum Foundation has made it clear that no activation date for Hoodi is set, nor has a timeline for Glamsterdam's mainnet deployment been established.

Key Modifications in the Upgrade

Among the modifications introduced in the upgrade is the enshrined proposer-builder separation (ePBS), which shifts the process of how block proposers and builders interact into the consensus protocol itself. Historically, the handoff between these roles depended on external agreements and third-party relays. The enhancement made by EIP-7732 aims to streamline this process to enhance trust within the protocol by enabling direct payments to builders, thereby optimizing the allocation of network resources. This transition not only simplifies the framework of the Ethereum network but also extends the data propagation window, allowing for the inclusion of larger transaction payloads, which is crucial for scaling the system.

In addition to ePBS, the Ethereum upgrade aims to introduce Block-level access lists (BALs) through EIP-7928. These lists will facilitate parallel transaction validation, leading to a more efficient network operation. With the implementation of EIP-8159, every execution layer client will have network capabilities compatible with the new access lists, fostering faster syncing.

Concerns and Delays

Another significant component of Glamsterdam focuses on revising the gas schedule to reflect true operational costs, as outlined in EIP-8037 and EIP-8038. The Ethereum Foundation is aiming for a gas limit that could potentially reach 200 million. However, due to concerns raised by ChainSecurity regarding potential failures in smart contract executions under the new gas structure, developers opted to delay the Hoodi upgrade. This decision was made during the ACD meeting on October 22, 2026, to allow for thorough examination of how EIP-8037 interacts with pre-existing contracts. The Foundation highlighted the importance of waiting for all audit results to ensure existing smart contracts can adapt to the proposed changes.

Future Outlook

The latest communication from the Ethereum Foundation stresses that while the Hoodi upgrade’s launch is on hold with no new date announced, it does not necessitate any immediate action from users of the mainnet or ETH holders. Notably, although a timeline for mainnet deployment has not been concretely established, expectations point towards Q4 of 2026. The status remains fluid, with reports set to be released on November 13, 2026, that could provide further clarity on the situation. Upcoming discussions on November 16 and November 19 will be critical in determining if the specifications of EIP-8037 and EIP-8038 will be revised, potentially signaling a return to the upgrade's progression.