Ethereum Glamsterdam Upgrade Moves Toward 200M Gas Limit Roadmap

Ethereum’s next major upgrade cycle is shifting toward “Glamsterdam,” a protocol package expected to shape the network’s post-Pectra scaling and block-production roadmap. Developers are discussing the upgrade as a way to address two long-running constraints: how blocks are built and how much execution capacity the base layer can safely support.

Glamsterdam moves into focus

Developer materials and EIP discussions indicate that Glamsterdam is being tracked closely because it relates to both block-building structure and execution efficiency. The upgrade is expected to progress through devnet planning ahead of a projected H2 2026 mainnet window, with the exact mainnet package subject to Ethereum’s standard testing and governance process.

Enshrined proposer-builder separation (EIP-7732)

EIP-7732, described as enshrined proposer-builder separation, is one of the key items being discussed for Glamsterdam. The proposal would move part of the current external block-building market into Ethereum’s protocol design.

Under today’s approach, block construction often relies on external relay infrastructure and specialized actors. While that model has helped the network manage maximum extractable value, it has also raised concerns around centralization and censorship pressure.

By bringing proposer-builder separation closer to the protocol layer, developers aim to reduce reliance on off-protocol arrangements and create a clearer separation between validators proposing blocks and builders assembling them. The change is technical, but it is also framed as aligned with Ethereum’s decentralization goals.

Block-level access lists (EIP-7928)

EIP-7928 focuses on block-level access lists, aiming to make execution more predictable by identifying state access patterns at the block level. In practical terms, validators and clients could gain better information about what a block needs to touch before processing it.

This matters because parallel execution can be difficult when the system does not know which transactions are likely to conflict. If block-level access lists work as intended, they could help Ethereum process more activity without making each block heavier and less predictable for nodes.

The proposal is frequently discussed alongside higher gas-limit targets and broader L1 scaling, reflecting its role in improving execution throughput.

Headline target: a 200M gas limit

A major focus of the Glamsterdam narrative is a potential path toward a 200 million gas limit. Such an increase would represent a significant change in base-layer capacity compared with today, but the materials emphasize that it is a roadmap and testing target rather than a guarantee that every detail will be implemented on mainnet exactly as discussed in current devnet work.

Development path and potential impact

Ethereum upgrades typically move through a multi-stage process that includes specification, client implementation, devnets and testnets, followed by final coordination. The upgrade is being watched because it signals continued effort to scale the base layer itself, rather than relying only on activity shifting to rollups.

At the same time, the process is designed to manage risk: aggressive capacity increases without careful client and node work could undermine the decentralization properties Ethereum is trying to protect.