Ethereum Delays Glamsterdam Testnet Step Over Gas-Accounting Risks

Ethereum developers have postponed the next Glamsterdam hard-fork step on the Hoodi testnet after researchers identified applications that may depend on existing gas-accounting behavior. The delay, announced in the latest core developer call, is intended to give teams time to assess how proposed changes to gas scheduling could break smart contracts or wallets that assume current cost models. Hoodi, the dedicated testnet for validator and client testing, was expected to activate the upgrade this week, but no new date has been set. Key contributors from the Ethereum Foundation and client teams including Geth, Nethermind, and Besu are now auditing affected contracts and discussing mitigation options. The Glamsterdam upgrade is part of the network's broader scalability roadmap, and changes to gas metering are especially sensitive because they can alter transaction fees and execution limits for decentralized applications. By pausing the testnet step, developers aim to avoid a repeat of past incidents where under-tested changes caused unexpected forks or application failures. The decision underscores the importance of rigorous testing before mainnet deployment, even as Ethereum faces pressure to improve throughput and reduce costs. For users and developers, the delay means more time to prepare for the eventual upgrade and a lower risk of disruption when Glamsterdam finally ships.