TL;DR
- Gas repricing alert: The Ethereum Foundation warns that EIP‑8037 and EIP‑8038 may impact a small set of L1 contracts relying on outdated gas assumptions.
- Scaling prerequisites: The EF says new state‑operation costs support a target enabling roughly 3x higher throughput and prepare the network for future gas‑limit increases.
- Glamsterdam shift: The EF highlights that the upgrade reorganizes transaction handling and block verification, requiring some builders to update contracts ahead of Q4 2026.
Ethereum developers are urging L1 contract maintainers to prepare for changes coming with the Glamsterdam upgrade, expected in Q4 2026. In a recent post, the Ethereum Foundation warned that gas repricing tied to EIP‑8037 and EIP‑8038 could affect a small subset of contracts that rely on outdated assumptions.
The EF emphasized that most contracts will continue operating normally, but highlighted that some may break or degrade without updates. According to the EF, replaying historical mainnet activity under the new schedule shows that only a tiny group of contracts is at risk, and outreach to affected builders has already begun.
Heads-up for anyone maintaining L1 contracts:
→ The Glamsterdam upgrade will include gas repricings (EIP-8037, EIP-8038) that shift state creation and access costs.
→ Most contracts are unaffected, but a small set may break or degrade without updates. Affected contracts rely on…— Ethereum Foundation (@ethereumfndn) August 25, 2026
Gas Repricing and Contract Impact
The Glamsterdam upgrade introduces new costs for creating and accessing state, aligning gas charges with the actual computational work required. The Ethereum Foundation noted that these changes are essential for future scaling, especially as Ethereum’s state has grown significantly since the Berlin fork in 2021. The Ethereum Foundation explained that the new schedule supports a performance target enabling roughly a 3x increase in base throughput.
While the majority of contracts remain unaffected, the Ethereum Foundation pointed out that those with hardcoded gas values or outdated assumptions may require preventative updates. Increasing the gas limit resolves most highlighted concerns, according to the Ethereum Foundation, and developers maintaining sensitive contracts are encouraged to review their implementations promptly.
Preparing for Glamsterdam’s Broader Shift
Glamsterdam combines the Amsterdam execution layer upgrade with the Gloas consensus layer upgrade, forming a coordinated push toward next‑generation scaling. The Ethereum Foundation described Glamsterdam as a major step following the Fusaka upgrade, reorganizing how the network processes transactions and manages its expanding database.
By substantially changing how blocks are generated and verified, the Ethereum Foundation expects Glamsterdam to pave the way for more efficient L1 operations. The Ethereum Foundation reiterated that proactive preparation will help ensure a smooth transition as gas repricing and state‑cost adjustments move closer to mainnet activation.
