Glamsterdam: The Next Upgrade After Fusaka

Jump to Sections:

• The Story of "Glamsterdam"
• Pectra: A Sneak Peek Into What’s Coming
• Fusaka: What’s After Pectra?
• Other G-Star Names on the Table

The Story of "Glamsterdam"

Did you know the name "Glamsterdam" comes from combining the star Gloas with the Devconnect city Amsterdam? It’s the proposed Execution Layer (EL) upgrade following Fusaka. Curious about how Ethereum upgrades get their names? Check out this insightful video: How Are Ethereum Upgrades Named.

Past CL upgrades have been named after stars like Altair, Bellatrix, Cancun, Deneb, Electra, and Fulu. For G-star, you can follow alternative suhhested here: Ethereum Magicians Discussion.

Traditionally, Ethereum upgrades were named after Devcon cities. However, this time around, Andrew B Coathup mentioned that this cross-layer upgrade will be combined with a city where last Devconnect took place - "Amsterdam". It’s worth noting there’s already a Meta EIP for this (EIP-7773: Hardfork Meta - Amsterdam).

With Devcon now being a biennial event, using Devconnect city names could make sense for annual upgrades. Still, does the name "Glamsterdam" really fit? It’s currently a front-runner, but not everyone loves it. Could there be better alternatives? Let’s dive into some creative options!

pectra, fusaka, glamsterdam 🪩 pic.twitter.com/l2bJXd0lA3

— timbeiko.eth (@TimBeiko) January 9, 2025

Pectra: A Sneak Peek Into What’s Coming

First up, Pectra (Prague + Electra) gave us a solid foundation with some key improvements. But here’s the thing—two big features, PeerDAS and EOF (EVM Object Format), were set aside for the next upgrade.

So, if you missed it, you can catch up by checking out some of the details about Pectra in my previous post. It covered a lot, but the big focus now is Fusaka.

Fusaka: What’s After Pectra?

Enter Fusaka, named after the cities Fulu and Osaka, which brings in the features that were moved from Pectra. Let’s dive into them:

1. PeerDAS (Data Availability Sampling)
   PeerDAS is a game-changer for how Ethereum handles data. Instead of downloading every single blob of data, nodes will now only store a small sample and check in periodically to verify it. This will allow the network to process more data (throughput) while keeping the bandwidth requirements the same. Cool, right? If you want the details, Francesco’s Devcon SEA talk covers it all.

2. EOF (EVM Object Format)
   EOF is about improving the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) itself. It gives Ethereum’s bytecode a makeover to make it more efficient and easier to analyze. By removing some unnecessary features, it helps ensure that contracts are more secure and easier to verify. Danno Ferrin’s talk at Devcon SEA is a must-watch if you’re curious!

Both of these are still being tested on independent devnets, but once Pectra goes live, Fusaka’s devnet will bring them together, and that’s when the magic happens.

Glamsterdam 🪩: The G-Star Name for Ethereum’s Next Consensus Layer Upgrade

Here’s the fun part: after Fusaka, we’re looking at the Amsterdam upgrade, which will involve a major transition from Merkle trees to Verkle trees.

Other G-Star Names on the Table

While Glamsterdam is getting a lot of attention, there are several other G-star names that could also fit the bill for Ethereum’s next consensus layer upgrade. Here are some of the options which were considered:Fellowship of Ethereum Magician.

So, What’s Next?

Ethereum’s next consensus layer upgrade will mark a significant milestone in the network’s evolution. The transition to Verkle trees will improve how Ethereum stores data and validates transactions, setting the stage for even greater scalability and efficiency.

Read more about Verkle Trees here:

• Verkle Proof Verification Precompile
• Relaunch of Kaustinen: Ethereum's Verkle Testnet Unveils Future Innovations
• Verkle Trees Research Progress

And as for the name? Glamsterdam is more than just a name; it’s a representation of the exciting times ahead for Ethereum.

Stay tuned for more updates, and don't forget to cast your vote if you haven’t already!

Read the highlights from ACD call here: Highlights of Ethereum's All Core Devs Meeting #148

Related Blogs:

• What do Bellatrix, Paris & TTD mean in Ethereum Merge Upgrade?
• Ethereum’s Dencun Upgrade Successfully Deployed
• Dencun Update, Meta EIPs, and Prague/Electra Network Upgrade Plans - ACDE call 176 Summarized

Hope this gave you a clearer picture of the next steps in Ethereum’s journey. If you want more details or have questions, feel free to ask!