Ethereum core developers gathered for ACDE #232 with two parallel priorities shaping the discussion. The first focused on Glamsterdam devnet progress, where client teams shared updates on BAL Devnet 2 now running, synchronization fixes underway, and the delay of BAL Devnet 3 as concerns around EIP-8037 gas accounting complexity and cross-EIP alignment continue to be worked through.

The second discussion focused on Hegotá’s selection of the execution layer headliner. During the call, both the SSZ Pure ETH and Lucid proposals were rejected, leaving frame transactions as the only remaining candidate while client teams assess whether broader support exists ahead of the final decision window.

• Glamsterdam Updates
• Hegota Updates

Glamsterdam Updates

According to the latest update, BAL Devnet 2 is currently running, providing client teams with a shared environment to observe how different implementations interact in practice. Although the devnet is active, a few implementation issues have already surfaced. One of the main observations so far is that Erigon client syncing issues are still being addressed, something that is fairly typical during early devnet testing.

Even with BAL Devnet 2 progressing, the next testing phase has not started yet. BAL Devnet 3 remains delayed as developers work through concerns surrounding EIP-8037 before introducing additional complexity into the testing environment. A test release version 5.4.0 is available, but most client teams are not ready to proceed with full participation.

Much of the discussion around EIP-8037 focuses on how it interacts with other gas-related proposals, particularly EIP-7928 and EIP-7778. Since all three proposals influence the gas accounting model, developers want to ensure these changes align properly before moving forward.

Another concern involves the refund logic and state gas reservoir mechanism introduced in EIP-8037. These components add additional complexity, which could make both implementation and testing more difficult. Developers have also pointed out that there are still testing gaps, making it harder to fully evaluate the proposal at this stage.

To address these issues, a repricing breakout session has been scheduled, where developers will examine the relationship between EIP-8037 and other gas-related proposals in greater detail.

Alongside the Glamsterdam work, experimentation around enshrined proposer builder separation is continuing through ePBS Devnet 0. The devnet has been running for about a week and already includes participation from several clients, including Lighthouse, Lodestar, and Prysm, with Teku and Nimbus expected to join soon.

Hegota Updates

Developers are still trying to determine which proposal should become the defining feature of the Hegotá upgrade. Several ideas have been discussed, but so far, none have gathered enough support across client teams to move forward as the headliner.

One proposal considered earlier was SSZ/Pure ETH. After reviewing the concept, developers agreed that it should not become the main feature of the Hegotá upgrade. Instead, the idea may continue to be explored outside the core protocol through independent implementations.

Another proposal that was evaluated and ultimately rejected is Lucid. While some developers initially saw potential in the idea, it did not gain sufficient support among client teams. However, this does not necessarily mean the proposal will disappear entirely. Some developers noted that Lucid could still be revisited in a future upgrade cycle under the I-Star roadmap.

With those options removed, attention has now shifted to frame transactions, which remain the only proposal still being evaluated as a possible headliner. At the moment, support is divided. Geth and Erigon appear supportive, while Besu and Reth would prefer moving forward without a headliner feature. The Nethermind team is also divided, making it difficult to reach the level of cross-client agreement that typically precedes a major upgrade decision.

Given this uncertainty, developers agreed to delay the final decision and allow more time for discussion. The proposal has been given a two-week review window, with the next decision expected on March 26.

Some developers also pointed to the broader context shaping Ethereum’s long-term roadmap. Post-quantum security considerations and DAO migration timelines around 2028 and 2029 may require native account abstraction sooner than expected. While this discussion does not directly determine the Hegotá headliner, it highlights how longer-term ecosystem priorities continue to influence upgrade planning.

Overall, Glamsterdam testing continues through active devnets while developers work through the complexity introduced by EIP-8037 and related gas accounting proposals. At the same time, the Hegotá upgrade still lacks a clear defining feature, with frame transactions receiving a short review period before a final decision is made.

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