London, UK – [Date of Publication, e.g., January 26, 2025] – The world of blockchain technology is in a perpetual state of flux, and at its forefront, Ethereum continues its ambitious journey of transformation. As the bedrock for a vast decentralized ecosystem, the network’s ongoing development is a complex, multi-faceted endeavor, meticulously charted through regular "All Core Developer" (ACD) calls. These crucial discussions, often dense with technical specifics, are now being made more accessible through initiatives like the "Checkpoint" series, which aims to provide high-level updates every 4-8 weeks, and platforms like Forkcast, which publishes comprehensive summaries, chats, and transcripts within hours of each call.
This report offers an in-depth look at Ethereum’s latest advancements, from the successful implementation of the Fusaka upgrade to the detailed planning for Glamsterdam and the initial scoping of Hegotá. It unpacks the significance of Data Availability Sampling, the newfound agility of Blob Parameter Only (BPO) forks, and the ambitious proposals aimed at enhancing the network’s scalability, security, and resistance to censorship.
Main Facts: Ethereum’s March Towards a Scalable Future
Ethereum’s core development has recently delivered significant milestones while simultaneously laying the groundwork for even more transformative changes. The Fusaka upgrade has successfully gone live, marking a pivotal step in Ethereum’s scaling roadmap by introducing Data Availability Sampling (DAS), specifically PeerDAS. This upgrade not only bolsters the network’s ability to handle more data but also came bundled with the groundbreaking capability to adjust blob parameters independently of major fork cycles through Blob Parameter Only (BPO) forks. This newfound flexibility allows Ethereum to respond dynamically to the demand for Layer 2 (L2) data space, a critical component for reducing transaction costs and improving throughput.
Looking ahead, the next major network upgrade, Glamsterdam, is now fully scoped, with active development underway on its two headlining features: enshrined Proposer Builder Separation (ePBS) and Block-level Access Lists (BALs). These initiatives are poised to significantly impact Ethereum’s decentralization, security, and transaction efficiency.
Further on the horizon, the Hegotá upgrade is in its early conceptual stages, with core developers and the broader community actively proposing and evaluating potential major features. A key candidate emerging for Hegotá is Fork-choice Inclusion Lists (FOCIL), a mechanism designed to enhance censorship resistance, demonstrating Ethereum’s commitment to its core values. The current period (January 8th to February 4th) is critical for submitting proposals for Hegotá’s headlining features, inviting broad participation in shaping the network’s future.
Chronology: A Roadmap of Progress and Planning
Ethereum’s development cycle is a continuous process of research, proposal, implementation, and deployment, marked by distinct network upgrades.
The Fusaka Era: Scaling and Flexibility Delivered
The period since the last "Checkpoint" update has been defined by the successful deployment of the Fusaka upgrade. This major network hard fork introduced Data Availability Sampling (DAS), specifically PeerDAS (EIP-7594), to the Ethereum mainnet. The concept of DAS is crucial for optimistic and ZK-rollups, as it allows these Layer 2 solutions to post data to Ethereum more efficiently and at a lower cost, while still maintaining high security by ensuring that data is actually available on the network for verification.
Crucially, Fusaka also solidified the infrastructure for Blob Parameter Only (BPO) forks. These minor, agile forks allow core developers to adjust the number of blobs per block without requiring a full network upgrade. The first two BPO forks were successfully stress-tested and integrated into the Fusaka release. Following Fusaka’s activation, the first independent BPO fork went live just days later, with a second following in early January. These rapid adjustments have significantly expanded the data space available for Layer 2 transactions, moving Ethereum from its pre-Fusaka capacity to a target of 14 blobs per block, with a maximum allowance of 21. This represents an impressive 2.3x increase in L2 data space, directly translating to more efficient and potentially cheaper rollup transactions. Core developers have indicated that a third BPO fork is not an immediate priority, preferring to monitor blob usage and ensure the existing capacity is adequately utilized before further expansion.
Glamsterdam on the Horizon: Decentralization and Efficiency
With Fusaka successfully deployed, the focus has firmly shifted to the Glamsterdam upgrade. This next major hard fork is fully scoped, with development progressing on its two highly anticipated headlining features:
- Enshrined Proposer Builder Separation (ePBS): A complex architectural change aimed at mitigating the negative effects of Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) and enhancing network decentralization.
- Block-level Access Lists (BALs): Designed to improve transaction efficiency and potentially reduce gas costs by providing more predictable transaction execution.
While BALs have already seen active development with dedicated devnets established, ePBS, due to its inherent complexity and profound impact on the network’s core mechanics, is expected to require more extensive development and testing before its own devnet can be established.
The process for integrating additional features into Glamsterdam is also well underway. Initially faced with a formidable list of 50 non-headlining Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs), core developers have diligently narrowed this down to a more manageable set of 17 "Considered" features. These EIPs, deemed necessary and high-impact, will be progressively added to devnets in small batches for rigorous testing. A key aspect of this incremental approach is the flexibility to remove any feature that proves problematic or could unduly delay the overall upgrade, ensuring the timely and stable delivery of Glamsterdam. A definitive timeline for Glamsterdam’s activation is expected once the ePBS devnet achieves stability and all "Considered" EIPs have undergone thorough testing.
Hegotá: Shaping the Next Frontier
Beyond Glamsterdam, the Hegotá upgrade is beginning to take shape. The naming convention itself reflects the collaborative nature of Ethereum’s development, combining a star name from the International Astronomical Union (IAU) catalog (Heze, replacing the initially considered Heka) with a city name (Bogotá).
The primary focus for Hegotá currently revolves around soliciting proposals for its headlining features. A strong candidate, Fork-choice Inclusion Lists (FOCIL), has emerged. FOCIL, a censorship resistance mechanism, was initially considered for Glamsterdam but was strategically moved to Hegotá to manage the scope of the prior upgrade. Its strong support within the community underscores its importance.
The timeline for Hegotá’s feature selection is clearly defined:
- January 8th – February 4th: Headliner proposals are actively being accepted. This is a crucial window for community members and researchers to submit their vision for Hegotá’s defining features.
- February 5th – February 26th: This period will be dedicated to intensive discussion and finalization of the headlining features among core developers, based on the submitted proposals.
- 30 days following headliner decision (deadline TBD): A window will open for proposals of non-headlining EIPs, allowing for the inclusion of smaller, yet impactful, improvements.
This structured approach ensures that the community has ample opportunity to contribute to Ethereum’s future trajectory.
Supporting Data: The Technical Underpinnings
The upgrades discussed represent significant technical advancements, each addressing critical aspects of Ethereum’s long-term vision.
Fusaka and Data Availability Sampling (DAS)
The introduction of PeerDAS through Fusaka is a cornerstone of Ethereum’s "Surge" roadmap phase, which focuses on sharding and scalability. DAS allows Layer 2 rollups to verify that the data they post to the mainnet is genuinely available, even if the entire data payload isn’t downloaded by every node. Instead, nodes sample small portions of the data, and cryptographic proofs ensure the availability of the whole. This mechanism dramatically increases the data throughput of the network, enabling L2s to process more transactions at lower costs. Vitalik Buterin and the official Ethereum channels extensively highlighted this, emphasizing that "scaling securely matters," as it ensures that the increased capacity doesn’t compromise the network’s fundamental security guarantees. The ability to conduct BPO forks independently amplifies this, offering an unprecedented level of agility to scale blob capacity in direct response to market demand, rather than being constrained by fixed, infrequent hard fork cycles. The 2.3x increase in L2 data space is a tangible benefit for end-users, translating into potentially lower gas fees and faster transaction confirmations on popular rollups.
Glamsterdam’s Pillars: ePBS and BALs
Enshrined Proposer Builder Separation (ePBS) is a highly complex yet vital feature for Ethereum’s future. It aims to formalize the separation of block building (assembling transactions into a block) from block proposing (adding the block to the chain). Currently, MEV, the value extracted by validators through optimal transaction ordering, can centralize power among a few sophisticated block builders. ePBS seeks to mitigate this by having a decentralized set of builders create blocks, which are then selected by proposers. This enhances network decentralization and reduces the potential for censorship. The difficulty of implementing ePBS lies in redesigning fundamental aspects of block production and consensus, which is why it requires extensive devnet testing.
Block-level Access Lists (BALs), while less complex than ePBS, are still significant. They provide a mechanism for transactions to declare which parts of the state they will access. This allows clients to pre-fetch and cache data, leading to more efficient execution and potentially reducing gas costs, especially for complex smart contracts. The existence of BAL devnets indicates solid progress and a relatively clearer path to implementation compared to ePBS.
Hegotá’s Vision: Censorship Resistance and Beyond
Fork-choice Inclusion Lists (FOCIL) is a direct response to concerns about potential transaction censorship within the network. In a world where block builders might choose to exclude certain transactions, FOCIL aims to provide a mechanism that ensures transactions included in an "inclusion list" are eventually included in the blockchain, regardless of a specific builder’s preferences. This is achieved by influencing the fork-choice rule, making it economically irrational for validators to censor transactions on the list. The technical challenge with FOCIL lies in its "cross-layer" nature, impacting both the consensus and execution layers, particularly the engine API that bridges them.
The mention of encrypted mempools as a competing proposal for Hegotá highlights another approach to censorship resistance, where transactions are encrypted to prevent block builders from identifying and front-running or censoring them. Additionally, discussions around 6-second slots (EIP-7782) suggest a future ambition to further reduce block times, potentially enhancing transaction finality and user experience, although its inclusion in Hegotá or a later upgrade (I-star) is still being debated.
The decision to standardize star names for upgrades using the IAU catalog, as seen with the Heka-to-Heze name change, underscores the community’s commitment to consistent and professional practices, even in seemingly minor details.
Official Responses: Voice of the Developers
The Ethereum core development community, comprising researchers, client teams, and testing teams, operates with remarkable transparency and collaborative spirit. Their discussions, captured in the ACD calls and summarized by platforms like Forkcast, provide a direct window into the challenges and triumphs of building a global decentralized network.
Regarding Fusaka and BPO forks, spokespeople from the official Ethereum channels and figures like Vitalik Buterin took to social media to articulate the profound impact of PeerDAS and the newfound flexibility. Their emphasis on "scaling securely" reflected a shared commitment to maintaining Ethereum’s robust security model while expanding its capabilities. The decision to hold off on a third BPO fork until current blob usage increases demonstrates a pragmatic approach, prioritizing efficient resource utilization over premature expansion.
The journey to define Glamsterdam’s scope also offers insight into the rigorous decision-making process. The initial influx of 50 non-headlining EIP proposals was described as an "absolute beast" by developers. This highlights the significant workload placed on client and testing teams, who must meticulously review, understand, and provide recommendations on each proposal. This challenge led to the refined process of paring down the list to 17 "necessary and high-impact features," reflecting a collective effort to manage scope effectively and prevent "fork creep" – where too many features delay an upgrade.
The structured timeline for Hegotá’s feature proposals, with dedicated windows for headliners and non-headliners, is a direct response to the lessons learned from Glamsterdam. It aims to streamline the EIP evaluation process and ensure that crucial decisions are made efficiently. Core developers actively encourage community participation in this process, guiding potential EIP champions through a detailed "2026 guide to shepherding a feature into a fork," which outlines the steps from initial specification (using EIP-1 as a template) to securing a technical point-of-contact and navigating the proposal through the ACD calls.
The ongoing debate around Hegotá’s headlining feature, particularly the competition between FOCIL and other proposals like encrypted mempools, exemplifies the vibrant intellectual exchange within the community. The developers acknowledge the complexity of FOCIL as a "cross-layer EIP" and its implications for pairing with other features. They openly solicit community input during the February discussion period, emphasizing that active support can significantly influence the final selection of features for future upgrades.
Implications: Reshaping the Decentralized Landscape
The sum of these ongoing developments carries profound implications for all stakeholders within the Ethereum ecosystem and beyond.
For Users: Enhanced Experience and Accessibility
For the average user, the most immediate benefits will stem from the continuous improvements in scalability. Fusaka’s DAS and the agile BPO forks directly contribute to a more robust and cost-effective Layer 2 ecosystem. As L2s become cheaper and faster, transacting on Ethereum will become more accessible to a wider global audience, easing congestion on the mainnet and reducing prohibitive gas fees. Future upgrades like BALs in Glamsterdam could further optimize transaction execution, leading to a smoother and more predictable user experience. The potential inclusion of censorship resistance mechanisms like FOCIL in Hegotá ensures that user transactions are processed fairly and are not subject to arbitrary exclusion, bolstering trust in the network’s neutrality.
For Developers: Powerful Tools and Evolving Paradigms
For application developers and protocol builders, these upgrades provide a constantly evolving and more powerful platform. Increased data availability and efficiency on L2s empower developers to build more complex and resource-intensive decentralized applications (dApps) without compromising performance or cost. Features like ePBS and BALs will necessitate adjustments to how dApps interact with the network but will ultimately lead to a more stable, decentralized, and efficient base layer. The clear process for championing EIPs, as outlined in the "2026 guide," democratizes innovation, allowing anyone with a compelling idea and the dedication to see it through to contribute directly to Ethereum’s core protocol. However, the complexity of features like ePBS also means that client and testing teams face significant engineering challenges, demanding meticulous design and rigorous testing.
For the Network: Resilience and Long-Term Vision
At the network level, these upgrades reinforce Ethereum’s commitment to its long-term roadmap, often visualized through phases like "The Surge," "The Scourge," "The Verge," "The Purge," and "The Splurge." Fusaka contributes directly to "The Surge" by enhancing scalability. Glamsterdam’s ePBS aligns with "The Scourge" by addressing MEV and improving decentralization, while BALs enhance overall efficiency. Hegotá’s FOCIL directly tackles "The Scourge" by bolstering censorship resistance, a critical component of a truly robust and impartial blockchain. The continuous iteration, the proactive adjustment of blob parameters, and the meticulous planning for future forks demonstrate a mature and resilient development methodology. This relentless pursuit of improvement positions Ethereum to remain a leading force in the blockchain space, capable of adapting to future demands and challenges.
The ongoing transparent discussions in the ACD calls, coupled with the community’s active participation in proposing and debating EIPs, underscore Ethereum’s decentralized governance model. While complex and sometimes arduous, this process ensures that the network’s evolution is driven by consensus and a shared vision for a more scalable, secure, and decentralized future. The coming months, particularly the discussions around Hegotá’s headlining features in February, will be pivotal in charting the next chapter of this remarkable journey.
