Protocol Cluster Updates: May 2026
Protocol Cluster Updates: May 2026
A Week of Progress in Svalbard
The Ethereum core devs gathering in Svalbard, Norway, recently marked a significant milestone in the development of the Ethereum protocol. Over the course of a week, teams from various client teams, or interop, focused on hardening and preparation for the next upgrade, Glamsterdam. This upgrade is a crucial step towards achieving the 200M gas limit, a key target for the Ethereum network.
Key Milestones Achieved
Several important milestones came out of the week-long event:
200M Gas Limit Floor Established
The convergence of ePBS, BAL optimizations, and EIP-8037 repricing has led to the establishment of a credible post-Glamsterdam target. This target is a crucial stepping stone towards achieving the 200M gas limit, a key requirement for the Ethereum network.
ePBS Stabilized
The multi-client Glamsterdam-devnet running with external builders pipeline has been tested end-to-end across nearly all clients. This achievement is a significant milestone in the development of the Ethereum protocol, as it ensures that the network is stable and prepared for the next upgrade.
EIP-8037 Finalized
The fixed cost_per_state_byte has been adopted, and full repricing numbers have been delivered by Friday on bal-devnet-6. This achievement is a crucial step towards achieving the 200M gas limit, as it ensures that the network is optimized for high-performance transactions.
Hegotá Groundwork Laid
The groundwork for Hegotá has been laid, with FOCIL prototypes functional and native AA requirements scoped. The multi-client devnet is the immediate next step, and this achievement is a significant milestone in the development of the Ethereum protocol.
Leadership Transition
The interop also marked the start of a leadership transition for the Ethereum Foundation Protocol cluster. The new cluster coordinators will be:
- Will Corcoran
- Kev Wedderburn
- Fredrik
These team changes are already underway, and the incoming and outgoing groups have had several impromptu conversations and strategic meetings. This transition is a significant milestone in the development of the Ethereum protocol, as it ensures that the network is led by experienced and knowledgeable individuals.
About the New Protocol Cluster Coordinators
The new cluster coordinators bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. Will Corcoran is a Research Coordinator within Protocol, with broad cross-team and cross-cluster visibility through his work on zkVM proving, post-quantum consensus, and the Fast Confirmation Rule. Kev Wedderburn leads the zkEVM team and brings deep expertise at the intersection of research and engineering, along with a first-principles approach to technical decision-making. Fredrik leads Protocol Security, the Trillion Dollar Security project, and has been deeply involved in cross-cluster work.
What to Expect
The immediate focus is shipping Glamsterdam, continuing preparations for Hegotá, and advancing the Strawmap. Glamsterdam devnets are now live, and scoping for Hegotá is well underway with FOCIL scheduled for inclusion as a headliner on the CL side. Stay tuned for more Protocol cluster updates from Will, Kev, and Fredrik in the coming weeks!
Implications and Real-World Applications
The development of the Ethereum protocol has significant implications for the real world. The 200M gas limit is a crucial requirement for the Ethereum network, as it ensures that the network can handle high-performance transactions. The Glamsterdam upgrade is a significant step towards achieving this target, and the development of the Ethereum protocol is a crucial step towards achieving the 200M gas limit.
The development of the Ethereum protocol also has significant implications for the development of decentralized applications (dApps). The Ethereum network is a crucial platform for the development of dApps, and the development of the Ethereum protocol is a crucial step towards achieving the 200M gas limit. The Glamsterdam upgrade is a significant step towards achieving this target, and the development of the Ethereum protocol is a crucial step towards achieving the 200M gas limit.
In conclusion, the development of the Ethereum protocol is a significant milestone in the development of decentralized applications (dApps). The Glamsterdam upgrade is a crucial step towards achieving the 200M gas limit, and the development of the Ethereum protocol is a crucial step towards achieving the 200M gas limit. The new cluster coordinators bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table, and the development of the Ethereum protocol is a significant step towards achieving the 200M gas limit.
Source: https://blog.ethereum.org/en/2026/05/11/protocol-update-may-26
