Ethereum Schedules Glamsterdam Upgrade on Sepolia Testnet for Oct. 6
Ethereum's Glamsterdam upgrade is set to launch on the Sepolia testnet on October 6, bringing proposer-builder separation, block-level access lists, and new gas pricing. The mainnet date remains unset.
Key takeaways
- Glamsterdam activates on Sepolia testnet Oct. 6 at epoch 353,024.
- Upgrade introduces enshrined proposer-builder separation.
- Block-level access lists and new gas pricing are included.
- Mainnet date for Glamsterdam has not yet been set.
- Gas limit floor rises to 200 million with this upgrade.
Ethereum's Glamsterdam upgrade is scheduled to go live on the Sepolia testnet on October 6 at epoch 353,024, slot 11,296,768. The upgrade introduces enshrined proposer-builder separation, block-level access lists, and new gas pricing that better reflects the cost of execution and state growth. The mainnet date has not yet been set.
What Proposer-Builder Separation Changes
Proposer-builder separation (PBS) splits block construction from block publication. Builders compete to construct blocks, while proposers select and publish the most profitable one. This is designed to make block production more competitive and decentralized, reducing the advantage of vertically integrated actors.
New Gas Pricing and Access Lists
The upgrade changes how gas costs are calculated to more accurately reflect execution costs and state growth. Block-level access lists allow transactions within the same block to share warm storage slots, potentially lowering costs for complex multi-transaction operations. These changes follow the Fusaka upgrade, which laid the groundwork.
What It Means for Users
For everyday users, the upgrade is expected to lower transaction costs and speed up confirmations. Developers will need to update tools that rely on a hardcapped maximum gas limit, as the gas limit floor is being raised to 200 million. The upgrade is part of Ethereum's L1 scaling roadmap to improve network efficiency.
If you're holding or using Ethereum, the testnet deployment on October 6 is a key milestone. For more context, see our coverage of the Glamsterdam upgrade passing its test phase and the final testing phase.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Glamsterdam upgrade?
Glamsterdam is an Ethereum protocol upgrade that introduces enshrined proposer-builder separation, block-level access lists, and new gas pricing that better reflects execution costs and state growth.
When will Glamsterdam go live on mainnet?
The mainnet date has not yet been set. The upgrade will first deploy on the Sepolia testnet on October 6.
What is proposer-builder separation?
Proposer-builder separation (PBS) splits block construction from block publication. Builders compete to construct blocks, and proposers select the most profitable one to publish.
How will Glamsterdam affect gas costs?
Gas pricing will better reflect execution costs and state growth. The gas limit floor is being raised to 200 million, which is expected to lower transaction costs.