Key highlights:
- Ethereum is expected to test the Glamsterdam upgrade on October 6
- The team is concerned about possible disruptions using fake identities
- Developers have a tight schedule for security checks, testing, and bug fixes
The Ethereum blockchain is getting ready to put its Glamsterdam upgrade to the test. Developers have set October 6 as the date to begin testing on the Sepolia testnet. Amid this major step, the network is also worried about potential disruptions, as developers warn that attackers could exploit cheap test ETH during the public testing phase.
Ethereum to test Glamsterdam upgrade on October 6
According to the latest reports, Ethereum is expected to begin testing the Glamsterdam upgrade on the Sepolia testnet on October 6, 2026. The team made this decision during the September 17 All Core Developers Consensus call, following progress on the upgrade’s development and testing.
Notably, the Sepolia test will be a crucial step in Glamsterdam’s potential mainnet release. With this testnet, developers can identify and address potential issues before the upgrade moves to Hoodi. As per Ethereum’s roadmap, the network targets the fourth quarter of 2026 for the Glamsterdam mainnet launch. But the exact date of the final event has not been announced yet.
It is important to mention that the upgrade includes several changes to improve the blockchain’s capacity and efficiency. One main feature is Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS). It brings a separation between block proposers and builders into the Ethereum protocol.
Significantly, the Glamsterdam upgrade intends to make Ethereum handle more activity in each block with easy verification. Reportedly, developers target a block gas limit of around 200 million. Following the Sepolia testnet, the Hoodi public test is expected on October 27.
Fake builder identities could disrupt Glamsterdsam testing
While Ethereum developers have already announced the Glamsterdam testing on the Sepolia testnet, the team is concerned about an unusual problem. They say that attackers can use fake identities and cheap test ETH to disrupt the network.
Mainly, the issue is based on how the new upgrade can handle blocks. As noted by the developers, attackers could create a large number of fake builder accounts and use them to compete in auctions for the right to provide the next block. These accounts could repeatedly win the auctions with high bids. This could lead to potential disruption of the test network as the attackers can withhold the block data instead of delivering it.
During the core developer call, Ethereum consensus developer Potuz revealed this issue. He stated, “I can just spin up a thousand builders, rotate them, offer very high bids, and not produce payloads,” adding that “any teenager” could do it. But it doesn’t mean that real ETH could be stolen through this method. The concern is only that repeated disruptions could make the Sepolia testnet challenging. Only if the network operates normally can developers identify how Glamsterdam performs under realistic conditions.
A tight deadline before Sepolia test
Interestingly, client teams have until September 29 to release software that is ready for the Glamsterdam fork on Sepolia. This means that developers have only seven days to prepare for the October 6 test. While there is usually a two-week deadline for security checks, testing, and bug fixes, the current window is comparatively shorter.
As Sepolia has fewer independent participants, developers have agreed to this tighter deadline. This makes it easier to monitor and recover if something goes wrong. However, it’s worth pointing out that some teams are still working through the transition, with Titan and Ultrasound not yet completing the Glamsterdam fork transition.
Source:: Ethereum Sets October 6 to Start Glamsterdam Upgrade Testing