Ethereum’s Glamsterdam Targets MEV Fairness
Post-Fusaka Push Eyes ePBS for Block Equity
Amsterdam | December 22, 2025 — Ethereum core developers have accelerated planning for the Glamsterdam upgrade, a dual-layer hard fork set to tackle persistent maximum extractable value imbalances on the network. The effort comes weeks after the Fusaka rollout cut node operating costs and refined data sampling. People familiar with the latest all-core calls say the focus narrows on enshrined proposer-builder separation to level the playing field for validators.
Named after recent Devconnect hosting in Amsterdam and a consensus layer tweak dubbed Gloas, Glamsterdam merges execution and consensus improvements. Developers aim for a first-half 2026 mainnet activation. Market participants note this cadence keeps Ethereum ahead of faster rivals like Solana.
Developers call ePBS the headliner, per minutes from recent ACDE meetings.
Fusaka’s PeerDAS feature already eased bandwidth strains for layer-2 data. Now attention shifts to MEV, where block builders reorder transactions for profit, often sidelining smaller validators. Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation, or ePBS under EIP-7732, would bake this split on-chain, ditching off-chain relays that breed centralization risks.
Builders would assemble sealed blocks. Proposers pick the top bid blind. Transactions reveal only post-finality. Data reviewed by this publication from dev calls shows this curbs front-running and sandwich attacks that plague DeFi liquidity.
On-chain MEV extraction hit $1.2 billion across Ethereum in 2025, per Flashbots relays.
US-based node operators welcomed the direction during Thursday’s consensus layer call. One operator, speaking off-record, said current MEV-Boost concentrates power among top-10 builders controlling 90% of blocks. Europe’s validator clusters, clustered around Prague and Berlin hubs, echoed concerns over relay trust assumptions.
Glamsterdam’s execution layer gets Block-Level Access Lists via EIP-7928. Blocks pre-declare state touches upfront. This speeds parallel execution and trims gas for repeat-access apps like DEXes. Traders in Singapore forums flagged it as a win for high-frequency strategies without layout breaks.
Asia-Pacific stakers say BALs could slash DeFi tx fees by 15-20%.
Additional EIPs under review include EIP-7805 for inclusion lists, forcing tx bundles into blocks to fight censorship. EIP-7872 caps blobs per block, easing reorg risks. Gas repricing packs aim to unify fees across dimensions. Not all make the cut; devs set November scopes last fall, but testing drags into Q1.
Hoodi testnet wrapped Fusaka cleanly. Glamsterdam eyes multi-client devnets soon. Client teams like Geth and Nethermind align on timelines, though Erigon flags ePBS compute tweaks. Institutional flows into Ethereum staking funds ticked up post-Fusaka, with BlackRock’s BUIDL noting efficiency gains.
Validator count topped 1.2 million after Fusaka; MEV rewards averaged 12% of block revenue.
In London trading circles, quants puzzle over burn auctions in ePBS drafts. Builders might torch ETH bids, adding deflationary tilt. Market participants said this smooths reward variance via attestation committees, narrowing gaps for solo stakers versus pools like Lido.
Beijing-based exchanges monitor closely. Regulatory nods for Ethereum ETFs there hinge on decentralization proofs. One filing referenced MEV as a vector for collusion; Glamsterdam specs counter that narrative. Tokyo devs contribute to Verkle tree pilots, though full statelessness waits for later forks.
European MiCA rules flag MEV centralization; ePBS aligns with compliance push.
For deeper dives into Ethereum’s protocol shifts, explore our coverage on layer-1 scaling debates.
Core devs stress iterative testing. Glamsterdam’s scope firms up in biweekly calls. No firm slot yet, but Q2 activation floats if devnets clear. Validators prep client upgrades amid rising layer-2 throughput.
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