Ethereum Delays Glamsterdam Upgrade on Hoodi Testnet
Core developers paused the upgrade's rollout while security concerns over two proposed gas-pricing changes are resolved.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Investing
Ethereum core developers have delayed implementation of the Glamsterdam upgrade on the Hoodi testnet until security concerns tied to eight smart contract invariants are resolved. The Glamsterdam upgrade had previously gone live on the Sepolia testnet on Oct. 6.
Why it matters
Smart contracts that depend on fixed gas assumptions could behave unexpectedly under the proposed changes, making the delay a precaution for developers and users across the Ethereum ecosystem. The decision gives developers more time to identify potential issues before the upgrade advances toward mainnet deployment.
Eight smart contract invariants and two Ethereum Improvement Proposals are under review, with the Glamsterdam upgrade having gone live on the Sepolia testnet on Oct. 6. It remains unclear which contracts are affected and when testing will resume.
The players
Ethereum Foundation
The Ethereum Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports the development of the Ethereum blockchain and its ecosystem.
ChainSecurity
ChainSecurity is a Swiss blockchain security firm that audits smart contracts and blockchain protocols.
The details
ChainSecurity's Oct. 13 report found that EIP-8037 and EIP-8038, which change how gas is charged for certain operations, could break smart contracts relying on fixed gas assumptions when external calls fail. The Ethereum Foundation said in a blog post that the Hoodi fork will not proceed until these issues are resolved.
Timeline
Sept. 28: The Ethereum Foundation announced Glamsterdam's goals in a blog post.
Oct. 6: The upgrade went live on the Sepolia testnet.
Oct. 13: ChainSecurity published its report on the two EIPs.
Friday (around Nov. 6, 2026): The Ethereum Foundation announced the Hoodi fork delay.
Market Dynamics
The Glamsterdam upgrade is part of Ethereum's layer-1 scaling roadmap, which the Ethereum Foundation outlined in a Sept. 28 blog post. The Hoodi pause follows the staged testnet sequence Ethereum uses to validate protocol changes before mainnet adoption.
Investors holding Ether or exposure to Ethereum-based projects may see uncertainty around the timing of the Glamsterdam upgrade. Projects that rely on fixed gas assumptions could face changes in how their contracts behave once the upgrade proceeds.
The takeaway
Developers and investors should watch for the Ethereum Foundation's next update on when the Hoodi fork will resume and whether code changes are required. Smart contracts that depend on specific gas costs may need review before the upgrade moves forward.
Further reading
Readers tracking blockchain protocol changes can explore more in Investing.
