The Ethereum Foundation has released its protocol development roadmap for 2026, centering on three core priorities: scaling network capacity, improving user experience, and strengthening the foundational Layer 1. This plan follows a year of significant technical upgrades and sets the stage for the upcoming Glamsterdam and Hegotá network enhancements aimed at increasing efficiency and transaction throughput.
The Ethereum Foundation has established a clear 2026 roadmap prioritizing scaling, user experience, and Layer 1 security. These efforts aim to increase the network’s capacity and long-term reliability.
Scaling work will focus on raising the gas limit and improving data movement across the network. This is intended to handle more activity at a lower cost.
User experience improvements target smoother wallet and app functionality alongside better interoperability between Ethereum networks. Hardening the L1 seeks to enhance core security and censorship resistance.
The network’s next major milestone is the Glamsterdam upgrade, expected in the first half of 2026. The Hegotá upgrade is planned for later in the year.
As stated in its protocol priorities update, these upgrades are designed to make Ethereum faster and more efficient. Key improvements include handling more concurrent transactions and continuing blob scaling to support Layer 2 growth.
This new direction follows major progress in 2025, including the Pectra and Fusaka upgrades. Those updates streamlined validator onboarding and increased data capacity.
Ethereum also successfully doubled its gas limit from 30 million to 60 million last year. This increased the number of transactions processable per block.
