Ethereum’s Glamsterdam Upgrade Advances with Sepolia Testnet Launch

Ethereum’s upcoming Glamsterdam upgrade has taken a significant step forward with its launch on the Sepolia testnet. The upgrade went live on Tuesday at 1:53 pm UTC at epoch 353,024, according to blockchain data. This testnet activation is one of the final rehearsals before the mainnet launch, which is expected to be one of the most consequential upgrades of 2026.

The Glamsterdam upgrade aims to advance Ethereum’s layer-1 scaling roadmap with key features like enshrined proposer-builder separation, block-level access lists, and changes to gas pricing. These changes are designed to make the Ethereum network more scalable and efficient. The upgrade follows the Fusaka upgrade and is set to improve the network’s throughput and usability.

Two major changes introduced by Glamsterdam are enshrined proposer-builder separation (ePBS) and block-level access lists (BALs). ePBS, or EIP-7732, separates block proposers and builders on Ethereum’s consensus protocol, giving validators more time to validate execution payloads. BALs, introduced by EIP-7928, record accounts and storage locations accessed during a block, enabling more efficient state root computations.

Following the Sepolia testnet launch, developers will determine the activation date for the Hoodi testnet before finalizing the mainnet launch. After Glamsterdam’s mainnet activation, Ethereum developers will begin working on the next major upgrade, Hegotá, which includes proposals aimed at enhancing privacy capabilities within the protocol.