Ethereum Glamsterdam Upgrade Approaches Sepolia Testnet Launch

The Ethereum community is gearing up for the Glamsterdam upgrade, set to launch on the Sepolia testnet on October 6, 2026, at 13:53:36 UTC. This upgrade combines the Amsterdam execution layer and Gloas consensus layer upgrades, introducing key changes like enshrined proposer-builder separation (ePBS) and block-level access lists (BALs). These innovations aim to enhance block production and validation, ultimately supporting greater throughput on Ethereum's Layer 1.

The Sepolia testnet deployment marks a critical step toward mainnet activation. Following a successful testnet launch, Glamsterdam will move to the Hoodi testnet before its eventual mainnet rollout, though specific dates for these stages have not yet been announced.

In preparation, non-staking Sepolia node operators are advised to update their execution and consensus layer clients. Sepolia stakers must ensure both their beacon node and validator client are updated, and should review any new ePBS duties or required changes to builder or validator tooling.

The Glamsterdam upgrade includes several notable improvements, such as EIP-7732, which separates block proposers and builders, and EIP-7928, which enforces block-level access lists. Together, these changes lay the groundwork for scaling execution capacity while maintaining practical block validation. Additional updates include adjusted gas accounting, ETH transfer logs, and new consensus changes to enhance network performance.