Ethereum ACDC Call #167: Fusaka Upgrade Nears, Glamsterdam Plans Unveiled

Ethereum’s core developers convened for the All Core Developers Consensus (ACDC) Call #167 on October 16, 2025, delivering a packed update on the network’s relentless push toward scalability and decentralization. With the Fusaka upgrade on the horizon and early sketches of Glamsterdam taking shape, the call revealed both impressive milestones and the messy underbelly of building a blockchain giant.

• Fusaka Nears Finish Line: Devnet-3 stability, successful testnet forks, and a clean security audit point to a December 2025 mainnet launch.
• Bandwidth Fixes: Blob retrieval optimizations like “light supernode” modes aim to cut costs by nearly 50% for node operators.
• Glamsterdam Blueprint: Trustless Payments to stay bundled with enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS) for V1, sidestepping scope creep.

Fusaka Upgrade: On Track for December

The Fusaka upgrade, Ethereum’s next major leap after the Dencun update of 2024, is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for the network. Dencun introduced blobs—huge data chunks that Layer 2 rollups use to slash transaction fees to near peanuts—and Fusaka builds on that by fine-tuning performance and stability. During the call, devs confirmed that Devnet-3, a private testing environment, is running smoothly with only minor bugs already squashed. Public testnets Holesky and Sepolia, which act as dress rehearsals for mainnet changes, saw successful forks with no critical client issues. For those just dipping their toes into crypto, testnets are like beta versions of a game—safe spaces to spot glitches before real money is on the line.

Adding to the optimism, a security contest concluded on October 13, 2025, with no high-severity findings. That’s a big deal when billions in value ride on these upgrades. The target for mainnet activation remains December 2025, a timeline that’s less about speed and more about precision—Ethereum has learned the hard way from other chains’ rushed disasters. But let’s not pop the champagne yet. Last-minute hiccups could still derail this train, especially with the sheer complexity of coordinating clients and nodes worldwide. If something slips, expect delays—and the community’s patience isn’t infinite. Still, hitting December could cement Ethereum’s dominance in decentralized finance for 2025, especially as rivals falter on scalability. For more detailed insights on the discussions, check out the recent ACDC Call summary.

Bandwidth Battles: Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners

One of the juicier topics was bandwidth optimization for blob retrieval. Blobs are a godsend for rollups, letting Ethereum handle thousands of transactions cheaply, but they’re a resource hog for nodes pulling and storing this data. Projects like Aztec, which lean on decentralized sequencers to order transactions, have screamed about bandwidth as a bottleneck. Ever wonder why running a node can feel like buying a Ferrari just to drive to the corner store? That’s the cost barrier Ethereum’s wrestling with.

The devs floated some sharp ideas to tackle this. First up, a “light supernode” mode—think of it as a stripped-down app version that sips resources instead of guzzling them, making it easier for hobbyists with basic hardware to stay in the game. Then there’s EL-side tracking, which means handling data more efficiently on the Execution Layer, the part of Ethereum that processes transactions. Picture it like organizing files on your laptop for quicker access. They also discussed mempool fallback mechanisms—a backup plan for unconfirmed transactions awaiting processing—and storage trade-offs that could slash resource use by almost 50%. These aren’t just nerdy fixes; they’re about keeping Ethereum accessible. If only whales with server farms can run nodes, decentralization dies. But over-optimize for cost, and you might compromise security or data integrity. It’s a tightrope, and the devs are tiptoeing with grit.

Glamsterdam Vision: Trustless Payments and Beyond

Peering further down the road, the Glamsterdam upgrade sparked heated debate, even in its early planning stage. A big question was whether Trustless Payments—a feature to cut reliance on off-chain middlemen for transactions—should split from enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS), a system to codify the split between validators who propose blocks and builders who craft them. The verdict? Keep them bundled for V1, with any major redesigns kicked to a potential V2. This is Ethereum’s no-nonsense pragmatism at work: ship what’s ready, iterate later. Splitting risks scope creep—piling on features until nothing launches—and the devs aren’t playing that game.

Trustless Payments could be a game-changer for decentralized finance, letting users transact with less trust in external systems, much like Bitcoin’s Lightning Network aims to do for off-chain scaling, albeit in a simpler way. But Glamsterdam’s scope creep fears are real. Another idea, EIP-7688, was pitched for inclusion, but the decision was postponed until after Fusaka’s mainnet rollout. Smart call—let’s not overload the cart when the horse is still trotting. Glamsterdam’s success hinges on balancing innovation with focus, a lesson Ethereum’s learned from years of sprawling upgrades. If they bloat this one, user adoption in DeFi could stall as complexity alienates the average Joe.

Liquid Staking Woes: Adapting to Change

Liquid-staking giants like Lido and Rocket Pool got dragged into the spotlight, and not for applause. Glamsterdam’s plan for dual payment flows—on-chain and off-chain systems running side by side—means these protocols need serious upgrades to their monitoring and auditing setups. For the uninitiated, liquid staking lets you lock up ETH to secure the network while getting a token like stETH to use elsewhere. Sounds slick, but behind the curtain, it’s a security tightrope. Lido alone controls a hefty chunk of staked ETH—some estimates peg it over 30%—raising centralization red flags. We’ve seen this movie before with DeFi hacks like the $600 million Poly Network exploit in 2021. Without tighter systems, it’s not a question of if, but when, a glitch or exploit bleeds millions.

The devs urged sandboxed testing environments—isolated setups to simulate these payment flows—along with custom tools to track funds. If Lido or Rocket Pool don’t adapt, inefficiencies or worse, hacks, could tarnish Ethereum’s post-Merge glow as the gold standard for security. From a Bitcoin maximalist lens, this complexity is exactly why Ethereum often feels like a Rube Goldberg machine compared to Bitcoin’s brutal simplicity. But credit where due: liquid staking fuels DeFi’s growth, and solving these woes could make Ethereum’s ecosystem even stickier for users.

Governance Grind: Stability Over Speed?

Governance, the unsexy glue of blockchain progress, took center stage too. Ethereum’s model is disciplined to a fault: feature design, Devnet testing, public testnets, then mainnet activation. They use informal “temperature checks” to feel out community vibes and a three-stage funnel—Proposed for Inclusion (PFI), Inclusion, and Release—to keep upgrades on rails. Cross-team coordination between Execution and Consensus layers is mandatory, and there’s a new push for communication hygiene. EIP authors now must detail impacts on Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs)—the tech letting apps ping the blockchain—and summarize updates in Ethereum Foundation blog posts. Devnets are treated as serious staging grounds, not toy boxes, to catch bugs early.

This bureaucratic beast isn’t pretty, but it’s necessary. Ethereum’s slow grind paid off with The Merge in 2022, delivering stability while speed-obsessed chains like Terra Luna cratered spectacularly. Yet, let’s play devil’s advocate: does this rigidity choke innovation? Solana pumps out updates at warp speed, flaws and all, grabbing market share with sheer audacity. Ethereum’s caution underpins its reliability as the king of smart contracts, but in a race for adoption, speed matters. As a Bitcoin fan, I can’t help but smirk—Bitcoin’s minimalist “don’t fix what ain’t broke” ethos dodges this drama entirely. Still, Ethereum’s governance slog aligns with effective accelerationism: it’s messy, but it’s the chaos that speeds up freedom from centralized gatekeepers.

What’s Next for Ethereum?

Stepping back, ACDC Call #167 paints Ethereum as a juggernaut that’s both bold and burdened. Fusaka’s steady march to December 2025 shows the network can deliver under pressure, while Glamsterdam’s early framework hints at tackling thorny issues like trustless systems head-on. Bandwidth tweaks for blobs aren’t headline-grabbers, but they’re the grunt work keeping Ethereum competitive against chains gunning for its crown. Liquid-staking headaches and governance debates remind us no blockchain escapes growing pains, yet Ethereum’s dogged focus on decentralization and community consensus makes it a beacon for what this tech can do.

From a Bitcoin maximalist perch, Ethereum’s endless tinkering looks like over-engineering a perfectly good hammer into a Swiss Army knife. Bitcoin’s simplicity—pure, censorship-resistant money—cuts through this noise. But let’s not kid ourselves: Ethereum fills niches Bitcoin doesn’t touch, driving a financial revolution through smart contracts and DeFi. In the spirit of pushing decentralized tech forward, Ethereum’s slog is the kind of grind that disrupts the status quo, even if it’s a headache to watch. So, here’s the big question to mull over: will Ethereum’s meticulous upgrades keep it ahead of the pack, or is leaner, simpler tech like Bitcoin the real future of money?

Key Takeaways and Questions

• What’s the latest on Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade?
  Fusaka is on pace for a December 2025 mainnet launch, with Devnet-3 running smoothly, Holesky and Sepolia testnet forks succeeding, and a security contest revealing no major issues.
• How is Ethereum addressing blob retrieval costs and bandwidth challenges?
  Proposals like “light supernode” modes, Execution Layer tracking, and mempool fallbacks aim to cut resource use by 50%, ensuring smaller nodes and rollups aren’t priced out.
• What’s the strategy for Glamsterdam, especially with Trustless Payments?
  Glamsterdam V1 will bundle Trustless Payments with enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS) to focus on delivery, deferring redesigns to avoid bloating the roadmap.
• Are liquid-staking protocols prepared for Glamsterdam’s payment shifts?
  Not fully—Lido and Rocket Pool need upgraded monitoring and sandboxed testing to handle dual payment flows, or risk exploits amid centralization concerns.
• Does Ethereum’s strict governance slow its edge against faster rivals?
  It might, prioritizing stability over speed, but this caution has historically grounded Ethereum’s reliability compared to crash-and-burn updates on other chains.