Podcast

Ethereum’s Next Big Upgrade: Pectra, Fusaka & Beyond | Tim Beiko

"It's Time to Get Aggressive"

Mar 24, 2025 • 2 min read

Ethereum continues to evolve, and the next series of major updates—Pectra, Fusaka, and Glamsterdam—are set to significantly enhance Ethereum's capabilities. Tim Beiko, Ethereum Foundation coordinator, joined the Bankless podcast to explain these crucial upgrades and their implications for Ethereum’s future.

Prioritizing Security First

Security remains Ethereum’s top priority, forming the backbone of every decision in the all core dev meetings. Tim emphasizes the importance of Ethereum as a secure, decentralized platform capable of safeguarding billions in value without external intervention.

Scaling Ethereum: Pectra and MaxEB

The upcoming Pectra upgrade introduces significant scaling improvements, notably MaxEB (Maximum Effective Balance), which allows validators to consolidate stakes beyond the current 32 ETH limit up to 2048 ETH. This enhancement not only drastically reduces network bandwidth by consolidating validator messages but also empowers small validators with the ability to auto-compound their rewards.

Doubling Blob Space

Alongside MaxEB, Pectra doubles Ethereum’s blob space—critical for Layer 2 scalability—from 3 to 6 blobs per block. These blobs store data temporarily, significantly reducing costs for rollups and enhancing Ethereum’s capacity to support more robust Layer 2 ecosystems.

Account Abstraction with EIP 7702

Tim also highlights EIP 7702, Ethereum’s first major step towards account abstraction. This allows users to delegate their externally owned accounts (EOAs) to customizable smart wallet "plugins," granting flexibility and advanced features like auto-approvals and social recovery, all without migrating to new addresses.

Fusaka: Next-Level Data Availability

Looking beyond Pectra, the Fusaka upgrade aims for even more ambitious scaling through Pure DAS (Data Availability Sampling), potentially multiplying Ethereum’s blob capacity from 6 to upwards of 48 blobs per block. Alongside this is the Ethereum Object Format (EOF), modernizing the EVM to improve security, tooling, and developer experience.

Glamsterdam and Beyond

Though further away, Glamsterdam is already being shaped as a future upgrade, reflecting Ethereum's commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. Tim emphasizes the Ethereum developer community’s renewed focus on efficient upgrade processes, seeking to balance cautious development with ambitious technological leaps.

A Vibrant, Evolving Ecosystem

Ethereum’s layered approach, prioritizing security first, scalability next, and enhanced user experience continuously, solidifies its position as a resilient, evolving global settlement layer. These upgrades represent Ethereum’s commitment to sustainably scaling while maintaining the decentralization ethos at its core.

Stay tuned as Ethereum sets a course towards a more robust, scalable, and accessible blockchain future.

Not financial or tax advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This newsletter is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research.

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Published in Bankless

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