Technical Mechanisms for Scaling
Published 7/7/2026, 9:19:49 PM
Ethereum's Glamsterdam upgrade, currently targeted for late August 2026, is a major protocol evolution that combines the Gloas (consensus) and Amsterdam (execution) layers. Research confirms that the targets of 10,000 TPS and a ~78% fee reduction are technically grounded in specific Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs), though the TPS figure represents a theoretical upper bound rather than a guaranteed day-one steady state [Source: https://www.onekey.so/blog/ethereum-glamsterdam-upgrade-comprehensive-guide].
Technical Mechanisms for Scaling
The upgrade achieves its performance targets through three primary technical pillars:
| Feature | Technical Mechanism | Impact on Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Parallel Execution | EIP-7928 (Block-Level Access Lists) | Allows non-conflicting transactions to execute simultaneously across multiple threads [Source: https://www.onekey.so/blog/ethereum-glamsterdam-upgrade-comprehensive-guide]. |
| Capacity Increase | Gas Limit Phasing | Increases the block gas limit from 60M to 200M (initially 100M), a 3.33x capacity jump [Source: https://www.onekey.so/blog/ethereum-glamsterdam-upgrade-comprehensive-guide]. |
| Fee Reduction | EIP-7904 (Gas Repricing) | Realigns opcode costs with actual resource usage, targeting a 78.6% reduction in L1 fees [Source: https://www.onekey.so/blog/ethereum-glamsterdam-upgrade-comprehensive-guide]. |
| MEV Efficiency | EIP-7732 (Enshrined PBS) | Moves block-building in-protocol, reducing MEV extraction by up to 70% [Source: https://www.onekey.so/blog/ethereum-glamsterdam-upgrade-comprehensive-guide]. |
Feasibility and Realistic Expectations
While the technical roadmap is credible, there are significant nuances regarding the delivery of these targets:
- 10,000 TPS Target: This is considered technically feasible but optimistic. While the 200M gas limit and parallel execution provide the necessary infrastructure, achieving 10,000 TPS requires highly optimized transaction batches. Realistic day-one throughput is estimated at 3,000–5,000 TPS [Source: https://www.onekey.so/blog/ethereum-glamsterdam-upgrade-comprehensive-guide].
- 78% Fee Reduction: This claim is supported by the EIP-7904 repricing package and EIP-2780, which specifically targets a 71% reduction in ETH transfer costs. However, because Ethereum fees are demand-driven, a massive surge in network activity following the upgrade could offset these structural savings [Source: https://www.onekey.so/blog/ethereum-glamsterdam-upgrade-comprehensive-guide].
- Current Status: As of July 2026, the BAL Devnet (using the Reth client) and ePBS Devnet are live. The upgrade was delayed from H1 2026 to Q3 2026 following the conclusion of the Soldøgn interop devnet in May 2026 [Source: https://www.onekey.so/blog/ethereum-glamsterdam-upgrade-comprehensive-guide].
Critical Risks
- Demand Elasticity: Lower fees may attract significantly more users, potentially raising the "base fee" and neutralizing the 78% reduction for end-users.
- Implementation Complexity: Moving block-building into the protocol (ePBS) is a massive architectural shift requiring perfect synchronization across all client teams.
- State Growth: While Glamsterdam improves throughput, it does not fully solve state bloat; full state expiry is deferred to the subsequent Hegota upgrade [Source: https://www.onekey.so/blog/ethereum-glamsterdam-upgrade-comprehensive-guide].
In conclusion, the Glamsterdam upgrade can technically deliver these improvements, but the 10,000 TPS figure is a maximum capacity limit rather than a guaranteed performance floor, and fee reductions remain subject to market demand.