What Is Glamsterdam, and Why Did Ethereum Just Delay Its Testnet Launch?
Ethereum developers delayed the Glamsterdam upgrade on the Hoodi testnet due to concerns over EIP-8037's impact on smart contracts. The delay was announced by the Ethereum Foundation on October 22, 2026, with no new date set. ETH is trading at $2,388, down 11% in October. The upgrade aims to improve transaction capacity and validation speed. ChainSecurity's analysis highlighted potential risks, leading to the delay. The mainnet launch, previously targeted for December, is now uncertain.
How this was made

The 30-second read
Why it matters
The postponement removes a near‑term positive catalyst for ETH, potentially extending the recent 11% monthly decline.
Market read
Ethereum's upgrade schedule is closely watched by crypto traders; any change can move ETH price and affect related tokens.
What to watch
The delay could allow more thorough testing, reducing future risk of a buggy mainnet launch.
Background
Glamsterdam combines two upgrades (Amsterdam and Gloas) and introduces proposer‑builder separation and block‑level access lists. The delay follows a security finding by ChainSecurity on gas‑pricing changes (EIP‑8037/8038).
Ticker impact
Ethereum Foundation announced a delay of the Glamsterdam upgrade on the Hoodi testnet, a new primary disclosure.
likely downward pressure as traders price in the postponed upgrade
The upgrade was expected to boost network performance and sentiment; its postponement removes that boost and adds uncertainty.
Market effects
Delays in core Ethereum upgrades may dampen enthusiasm for related DeFi and layer‑2 projects.
Global crypto markets could see modest pullback as ETH is a benchmark asset.
Ethereum is the second‑largest crypto; its upgrade delay is relevant to the broader digital asset space.
Counterpoint
Some traders may view the delay as a buying opportunity, betting that the eventual upgrade will deliver a larger upside.
Key entities
- organizationEthereum Foundation
Entity responsible for coordinating Ethereum upgrades.
- organizationChainSecurity
Security firm that identified risks in the upgrade.



