- Ethereum has delayed the October 26 rollout of the Glamsterdam upgrade on the Hoodi testnet so developers can examine possible smart contract compatibility problems tied to EIP-8037.
- This schedule change impacts testnet testing rather than the Ethereum mainnet, and a new deployment date has not yet been provided by developers.
Ethereum developers have decided to hold off on the scheduled Glamsterdam upgrade for the Hoodi testnet following worries regarding how one of the proposed upgrades might impact operational smart contracts. Originally slated for October 26, the activation date has been lifted while investigations into these compatibility questions take place.
The Ethereum Foundation made the postponement public on October 22, explaining that extra time is required to evaluate EIP-8037 alongside its potential impact on contracts currently active on the Ethereum mainnet. While this pause does not signify that an actual error has been verified on the live network, developers have yet to share a rescheduled date for the Hoodi launch.
Additionally, the previous plan included raising Hoodi’s gas limit to 200 million at epoch 132,352. That specific adjustment has likewise been stripped from the delayed deployment strategy.
EIP-8037 Raises Smart Contract Compatibility Questions
Known as the State Creation Gas Cost Increase, EIP-8037 suggests altering the gas pricing associated with transactions that generate a fresh blockchain state, which covers accounts and persistent contract storage. The objective is to better align these fees with the long-term storage expenses borne by Ethereum nodes.
Nonetheless, altering gas costs can alter the execution of existing smart contracts, especially if their underlying code depends on fixed expectations regarding transaction expenses. Security company ChainSecurity reportedly discovered 13 practical instances of contract structures that might face repercussions and has collaborated with impacted projects to look into them.
Glamsterdam represents a comprehensive Ethereum upgrade uniting modifications across both execution and consensus layers. Its envisioned upgrades feature enshrined proposer-builder separation via EIP-7732 and block-level access lists via EIP-7928. These updates aim to enhance transaction processing and block creation.
The upgrade has already made its way to the Sepolia testnet, going live there on October 6. Pushing back the Hoodi timeline grants developers extra room to analyze potential compatibility hurdles prior to advancing with further testnet deployment.
For standard users and ETH holders on the Ethereum mainnet, this delay demands no immediate steps. The postponement is limited to Hoodi, a public testing network, and fails to set a timeline for a mainnet release. Developers must successfully address the open questions before charting the path forward for the testnet upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Glamsterdam upgrade delayed on the Hoodi testnet?
The upgrade was postponed so developers could investigate potential smart contract compatibility issues related to EIP-8037.
Does this delay affect the Ethereum mainnet?
No, the postponement affects testnet plans only and does not impact the live Ethereum mainnet.
What is EIP-8037?
EIP-8037 is the State Creation Gas Cost Increase proposal, which adjusts gas fees for transactions that create a new blockchain state to better reflect long-term storage costs for nodes.
Has a new date been set for the Hoodi upgrade?
No, developers have not yet announced a replacement date for the Hoodi testnet upgrade.
Do ETH holders need to take any action?
No immediate action is required for ETH holders or mainnet users, as the delay is strictly confined to the public test network.
