Ethereum Pushes Back Glamsterdam Testnet Launch Over Security Concerns

Ethereum developers have postponed the next stage of Glamsterdam testing after researchers flagged potential security risks involving smart contract behavior.

The Ethereum Foundation canceled the Hoodi testnet activation planned for October 26, 2026. A new date has yet to be announced, leaving the upgrade’s broader deployment schedule uncertain.

Hoodi Delay Puts December Mainnet Target in Doubt

Developers had discussed December as a possible window for Glamsterdam’s mainnet release, but the timeline remains unofficial. The Hoodi activation must be rescheduled after the outstanding technical concerns are investigated.

The postponement also delays a planned increase in Hoodi’s gas limit to 200 million. Developers will need to establish a revised testing schedule before moving forward with these changes.

EIP-8037 Triggers Smart Contract Compatibility Concerns

The issue centers on EIP-8037, a proposal that would modify gas accounting for operations that create blockchain state.

Security researchers at ChainSecurity identified situations in which existing smart contracts might receive a different amount of usable gas than anticipated. This could interfere with error-handling mechanisms and failed transactions, potentially causing contracts to behave unexpectedly.

Further analysis is needed to establish the extent of the risk and determine what changes may be necessary before testing resumes.

Glamsterdam Roadmap Remains Intact

The delay applies to the Hoodi testnet activation and does not indicate that Ethereum has abandoned Glamsterdam.

The planned upgrade includes enshrined proposer-builder separation and block-level access lists, among other changes intended to improve Ethereum’s transaction processing and block-building infrastructure.

Developers must first address the security concerns, conduct additional testing and select a new Hoodi activation date. The mainnet launch schedule will become clearer once those steps are completed.

Ether Remains Below $2,400

Ether was trading between approximately $2,370 and $2,415, down around 0.5%.

A sustained move above $2,415 could strengthen the short-term outlook, while a break below $2,370 may point to increased selling pressure.

For now, the immediate focus remains on resolving the technical issues and ensuring Glamsterdam can be tested safely before developers commit to a mainnet rollout.