Ethereum Glamistad upgrade faces mismatch between hard fork schedule and scale

WhaleWatcher · 2026-01-29T00:08:11+00:00

The 173rd Ethereum Core Developers Meeting revealed significant technical challenges for the Geladstad upgrade, prompting potential scope reductions. The clash between timeline and upgrade scale may necessitate either a delay or a downgrade in features. Key discussions include delaying EIP 7732 to future forks and addressing node performance issues affecting upgrade timelines. Progress on various EIPs varies, further complicating the upgrade's scope.

WhaleWatcher

2026-01-29 00:08:11

Abstract generation in progress

At the 173rd Ethereum Consensus Layer Core Developer Meeting (ACDC), a significant technical challenge was revealed. The development team recognized that in order to release the GlimmerStam upgrade before the first half of the year, the currently planned scope might need to be drastically reduced. This issue was something developers had not officially wanted to specify, but it is now confronting them as a technical reality.

Fundamental Conflict Between First Half Schedule and Upgrade Scope

There is a substantial gap between the planned scope of GlimmerStam and the proposed schedule. Developers have indicated they aim to resolve this issue by the end of February, but realistically, they are faced with two options: either reduce the scope to meet the schedule or delay the schedule to maintain the scope.

Review of EIP 7732 and Postponement of Hard Fork

The most notable decision concerns EIP 7732. If an interoperable version is not secured by the end of February, it has been agreed to exclude it from GlimmerStam and postpone it to a future hard fork. This demonstrates that the development team is acknowledging the technical realities and preparing for flexible responses.

Node Performance Issues Hindering Progress

The Teku client team from Consensus reported node performance issues discovered during mainnet stress testing. The delay in participating in GlimmerStam due to resolving these issues indicates that it is not merely a matter of time but a question of technical robustness. Developers are prioritizing resolving performance issues, and changes to the upgrade schedule seem unavoidable.

Progress of Various EIP Proposals

EIP 7928 requires review of API changes for consensus layer clients, with the deadline for submitting major proposals for the Hegota upgrade set for February 4th. Meanwhile, some client teams have already completed library updates to support EIP-7688. The differing progress rates of these proposals further increase the likelihood of adjusting the scope of the GlimmerStam hard fork.

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