The Ethereum Foundation has detailed its 2026 technical priorities, focusing on the Glamsterdam and Hegotá upgrades to enhance Layer 1 scaling, native account abstraction, and post-quantum cryptographic defenses.
The Ethereum Foundation has released its 2026 Protocol Priorities Update, signaling a decisive shift toward hardening the network’s core infrastructure against both centralized censorship and the looming threat of quantum computing. By reorganizing its development into three distinct tracks—Scale, User Experience (UX), and Harden the L1—the foundation aims to solidify Ethereum’s position as a sovereign, decentralized settlement layer for the global digital economy.
Central to this roadmap are two major protocol upgrades: Glamsterdam, scheduled for the first half of 2026, and Hegotá, slated for the second half. These upgrades represent a significant leap in decentralized engineering, moving beyond simple throughput increases to address the fundamental architecture of the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Glamsterdam is expected to introduce Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS) via EIP-7732 and Block-Level Access Lists (BALs) under EIP-7928, which are designed to enable parallel execution and reduce transaction costs by an estimated 71%.
In a move that reinforces individual digital sovereignty, the foundation is prioritizing native account abstraction (AA) through EIP-7701 and EIP-8141. These proposals aim to embed smart account logic directly into the protocol, decoupling transaction validation from execution. This shift is not merely a convenience for users; it provides a critical migration path away from current Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) authentication, which is vulnerable to future quantum-based decryption. By integrating quantum-resistant signature verification into the EVM, Ethereum is proactively defending the constitutional right to private, secure digital property.
The scaling track focuses on pushing the Layer 1 gas limit toward and beyond the 100 million mark, a substantial increase from the current 60 million limit. This effort is supported by the advancement of the zkEVM attester client from prototype to production readiness. By verifying proofs at the consensus level, the network can achieve greater efficiency without compromising the decentralized nature of its validation set. Furthermore, the Hegotá upgrade targets a 90% reduction in storage requirements through the implementation of Verkle Trees, a move essential for maintaining the ability of independent node operators to participate in the network.
Resilience remains the third pillar of the 2026 strategy. The new Harden the L1 track emphasizes censorship resistance through Forward Inclusion Lists (FOCIL) and expanded testing infrastructure. As global authoritarian regimes increasingly attempt to exert control over digital networks, these cryptographic advancements serve as a necessary bulwark for free-market principles. By focusing on statelessness and history expiry, the foundation is ensuring that the protocol remains light enough to resist the gravity of centralized data centers, preserving the decentralized engineering ethos that defines American technological leadership.
Ryan Mitchell serves as a Staff Writer for Just Right News, where he anchors the desk for Cyber, Technology Policy, and Digital Sovereignty. In an era where the digital landscape has become as much a battlefield as any physical territory, Ryan provides a critical conservative lens on the forces shaping the future of American innovation and national security. His work is defined by a commitment to the idea that American leadership in the digital age is not just a matter of economic success, but a necessity for the preservation of global liberty.
Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Ryan’s perspective is deeply rooted in the Lone Star State’s tradition of independence and skepticism of centralized authority. Growing up in a city that transformed from a quiet state capital into a global technology hub, he witnessed firsthand the disruptive power of the tech industry. This upbringing instilled in him a firm belief in free-market principles and the necessity of protecting individual liberties from both government overreach and corporate overstep. His Texan background serves as a foundational compass, guiding his reporting toward stories that emphasize national resilience and the preservation of constitutional values in an increasingly virtual world.
Now based in San Francisco, California, Ryan operates from the epicenter of the very industry he scrutinizes. Living and working in the heart of Silicon Valley allows him to provide “boots on the ground” reporting that few conservative journalists can match. He navigates the cultural and political complexities of the Bay Area to bring Just Right News readers an inside look at the boardrooms and coding labs where the next generation of digital policy is forged. For Ryan, being stationed in San Francisco is a strategic choice; it allows him to challenge the prevailing ideological monoculture of the tech elite from within their own backyard, ensuring that the concerns of middle America are represented in the conversation about our digital future.
His beat—Cyber, Technology Policy, and Digital Sovereignty—covers the high-stakes world of data privacy, artificial intelligence, and the infrastructure of the modern web. Ryan is particularly focused on the concept of digital sovereignty, arguing that for a nation to remain truly free, it must maintain control over its own technological destiny and critical infrastructure. He frequently explores how international regulations and domestic policies impact the ability of American firms to compete without sacrificing the privacy or security of their citizens.
Central to his current body of work is his featured series, “The New Cold War.” Through this project, Ryan examines the escalating technological rivalry between the United States and its global adversaries. He delves into the complexities of state-sponsored hacking, the global race for semiconductor dominance, and the ideological struggle to define the rules of the internet. Ryan views this competition not merely as a commercial race, but as a fundamental defense of Western values against authoritarian digital models. Through his rigorous reporting and principled analysis, Ryan Mitchell ensures that the readers of Just Right News stay informed about the invisible forces defining the 21st century, always advocating for a future where technology serves the cause of freedom.