The Ethereum Glamsterdam upgrade is a hard fork planned for Q3-Q4 2026 that bundles two protocol changes: EIP-7732 (enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation) and EIP-7928 (Block-Level Access Lists). It removes reliance on external block-building relays and enables parallel transaction execution, aiming to improve fairness and throughput on Ethereum’s base layer.
- Glamsterdam is not live yet – it is currently moving through devnet testing phases as of mid-2026.
- EIP-7732 (ePBS) bakes proposer-builder separation directly into the Ethereum protocol, removing reliance on external relay infrastructure.
- EIP-7928 (Block-Level Access Lists) enables parallel transaction execution, which could meaningfully raise throughput without a new gas limit increase.
- Higher throughput should translate into lower average gas fees, which matters for Indian users paying in ETH on platforms like CoinDCX and ZebPay.
- No confirmed mainnet date exists yet; monitor Ethereum Foundation announcements and All Core Devs call summaries for updates.
What the Ethereum Glamsterdam Upgrade Is and Where It Sits on the Roadmap
Ethereum upgrades no longer arrive as single moonshot events. Since The Merge in 2022, the Ethereum Foundation has shipped changes in focused hard forks: Shapella, Dencun, Pectra. The Ethereum Glamsterdam upgrade follows that same pattern, targeting a specific layer of the protocol stack rather than rewriting everything at once.
The name “Glamsterdam” follows Ethereum’s naming convention, combining a city name with a thematic twist. It sits on the roadmap after Pectra (which shipped in May 2025) and focuses primarily on the block production pipeline and execution efficiency. Think of it as infrastructure maintenance that the network has needed for a while.
Ethereum currently processes roughly 15 to 20 transactions per second on its base layer, according to Etherscan network data (July 2026). Glamsterdam does not promise to multiply that figure overnight, but EIP-7928’s parallel execution design could push effective throughput noticeably higher without touching the gas limit. That is a meaningful distinction: more work done per block, not just a bigger block.
For Indian investors holding ETH on exchanges like CoinDCX, WazirX, or ZebPay, the Ethereum Glamsterdam upgrade is worth tracking. ETH’s network utility directly influences demand, and demand influences price. Any upgrade that improves throughput and reduces fees can strengthen the case for ETH as productive infrastructure, not just a speculative asset.
EIP-7732: Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS) Explained Simply
To understand ePBS, you first need a quick refresher on how Ethereum blocks get built today. Validators propose blocks, but sophisticated actors called builders actually assemble the transaction bundles to maximise MEV (Maximal Extractable Value). Right now, this relationship runs through external relays, which are off-chain middlemen that validators trust to deliver valid blocks.
That trust is the problem. External relays are unregulated infrastructure. If a relay goes down or acts maliciously, validators have limited recourse. EIP-7732 removes this dependency by writing the proposer-builder relationship directly into Ethereum’s consensus layer. This is what “enshrined” means: it is part of the protocol, not bolted on the side.
Under ePBS, builders submit bids for the right to fill a block’s execution payload. The proposer (validator) selects the highest valid bid and publishes a commitment. The builder then reveals the full payload. The protocol enforces the exchange, not a relay. According to the EIP-7732 specification published on the Ethereum Improvement Proposals repository, this design reduces validator trust assumptions and makes MEV extraction more transparent and accountable.
For a deeper understanding of how consensus and block production have evolved since the proof-of-work era, read our explainer on proof of work in blockchain to see how far Ethereum has come.
The practical outcome for everyday users: a more stable, censorship-resistant block production process. It does not directly lower your gas fee on a single transaction, but it makes the network’s fee market more predictable and less susceptible to relay-level manipulation.
EIP-7928: Block-Level Access Lists and Parallel Execution
This is the EIP that could actually move the needle on throughput. Currently, Ethereum executes transactions sequentially, one after another inside each block. That is a bottleneck. EIP-7928 introduces Block-Level Access Lists that declare, upfront, which storage slots and accounts each transaction will touch.
Because the protocol knows in advance which transactions conflict with each other and which do not, it can run non-conflicting transactions in parallel. The analogy is simple: if two people are working on different parts of a spreadsheet, they do not need to wait for each other. Only when they edit the same cell does ordering matter.
According to the EIP-7928 draft pull request on the ethereum/EIPs GitHub repository (opened April 2025), a block where 60 to 70 percent of transactions touch independent state could see near-proportional throughput gains under parallel execution. Precise benchmarks will depend on real-world transaction mix at the time of mainnet activation.
This connects directly to how Ethereum stores and verifies state. If you want to understand the underlying data structure that makes this kind of access tracking possible, our article on Merkle trees in blockchain explains the architecture clearly.
For Indian DeFi users, higher throughput means less congestion during peak hours, which is when gas fees spike the most. Lower base fees mean smaller transaction costs, which matters especially when you are paying 30% VDA tax on gains and 1% TDS on every sell transaction under the Finance Act 2022. Every rupee saved in gas stays in your wallet.
| EIP | Name | Layer Affected | Primary Benefit | Status (July 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EIP-7732 | Enshrined PBS (ePBS) | Consensus | Removes relay trust dependency | Devnet testing |
| EIP-7928 | Block-Level Access Lists | Execution | Enables parallel tx execution | Devnet testing |
Glamsterdam Timeline: Devnets, Public Testnet, and Mainnet Window
Ethereum upgrades follow a predictable path: internal devnets, public devnets, public testnet (usually Sepolia or Holesky), and then mainnet. The Ethereum Glamsterdam upgrade is currently in the devnet phase as of mid-2026, with All Core Devs (ACD) call discussions actively refining both EIPs.
Expected Schedule
The Ethereum developer community has informally pointed to a July to August 2026 public testnet window for Glamsterdam, as discussed in All Core Devs Call #190 (June 2026). If testnet runs cleanly for four to six weeks with no critical bugs, a Q3 or Q4 2026 mainnet activation is plausible. However, Ethereum has delayed upgrades before when testing surfaces issues, so treat these as working estimates, not confirmed dates.
| Phase | Estimated Window | Status (July 2026) | Key Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Devnets | Q1-Q2 2026 | Completed | EIP spec finalisation |
| Public Devnet | June-July 2026 | In progress | Open developer testing |
| Public Testnet (Sepolia/Holesky) | July-August 2026 | Pending | Broad client compatibility check |
| Mainnet Activation | Q3-Q4 2026 | Pending | Hard fork block number TBC |
There is no confirmed mainnet block number or date at the time of writing. The Ethereum Foundation will publish a formal announcement once testnet results are in. Following the ethereum/pm GitHub repository and ACD call recordings is the most reliable way to track progress.
What Indian Investors Should Watch
Indian exchanges including CoinDCX, Mudrex, and ZebPay typically update their ETH deposit and withdrawal infrastructure within 24 to 48 hours of a mainnet hard fork. There is no action required from retail holders. Your ETH stays ETH. Unlike contentious forks (think the ETH/ETC split in 2016), the Ethereum Glamsterdam upgrade is a non-contentious upgrade with broad developer consensus.
SEBI and RBI have not issued any specific guidance on Ethereum protocol upgrades, and there is no regulatory reason to treat Glamsterdam differently from previous hard forks. Your 30% VDA tax liability and 1% TDS obligations under the Finance Act 2022 remain unchanged regardless of the upgrade.
Watch for Devcon, Ethereum’s flagship developer conference, as a likely venue for post-mainnet retrospectives. A Mumbai or Asia-region Devcon would bring this conversation closer to home for the Indian developer and investor community.
The bottom line: the Ethereum Glamsterdam upgrade is a technically significant upgrade that addresses real infrastructure weaknesses. It is not a price catalyst in isolation, but a network that processes transactions faster and more fairly is a stronger foundation for the applications built on top of it.
This is not financial advice. Data as of July 2026. All dates and figures should be independently verified before making any financial decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Ethereum Glamsterdam upgrade go live on mainnet?
There is no confirmed mainnet date as of July 2026. Public testnet deployment is expected around July to August 2026. If testing goes smoothly, mainnet activation could happen in Q3 or Q4 2026. Ethereum has a history of delaying upgrades when issues are found in testing, so monitor the Ethereum Foundation’s official channels and All Core Devs call summaries for the latest.
What is enshrined proposer-builder separation (ePBS) in EIP-7732?
Enshrined PBS means the relationship between validators (proposers) and block builders is written directly into Ethereum’s protocol, replacing the current system that relies on external, off-chain relays. EIP-7732 defines this design. It reduces the trust validators must place in third-party infrastructure and makes the MEV supply chain more transparent and censorship-resistant at the protocol level.
What are Block-Level Access Lists in EIP-7928?
Block-Level Access Lists require each transaction to declare in advance which accounts and storage slots it will read or write. This lets the Ethereum execution layer identify non-conflicting transactions and process them simultaneously rather than one by one. The result is higher effective throughput per block without needing to raise the gas limit, which carries its own risks around node decentralisation.
Will the Glamsterdam upgrade lower gas fees for Indian users?
Potentially, yes, but it is not guaranteed. If parallel execution via EIP-7928 meaningfully increases throughput, congestion-driven fee spikes should become less frequent. Lower base fees would reduce the ETH cost of DeFi transactions, which matters for Indian users already paying 30% VDA tax and 1% TDS on crypto transactions under the Finance Act 2022. The actual fee impact depends on real-world adoption and transaction volume at the time of upgrade.
How will the Ethereum Glamsterdam upgrade affect ETH price in India?
Upgrades that improve network efficiency and fairness generally strengthen ETH’s long-term utility case, but they do not guarantee short-term price moves. Crypto markets are driven by many factors beyond protocol changes, including global macro conditions, regulatory developments, and sentiment. Indian investors should assess ETH as part of a diversified portfolio and remember that all VDA gains are taxed at 30% in India, with no offset for losses from other assets.
Last updated: July 2026. Reviewed by the CryptoWire editorial team.
