Ethereum Debates Halving Block Times to 6 Seconds for Glamsterdam Upgrade

Ethereum is actively seeking community feedback on key Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) that could define the upcoming "Glamsterdam" network upgrade. The discussion centers on critical themes such as network scaling, user experience (UX) enhancements, and censorship resistance, with a particular focus on proposals like EIP-7782, which suggests halving the network's slot time. This crucial phase of development aims to shape the future capabilities of the Ethereum blockchain.

Core developer Barnabé Monnot's EIP-7782 proposes a significant reduction in Ethereum's block time from 12 seconds to 6 seconds. This change, slated for potential inclusion in the Glamsterdam upgrade around late 2026, aims to enhance transaction confirmation speeds and overall user experience. Proponents argue that faster slot times would lead to quicker transaction inclusion, more responsive decentralized applications (dApps), and improved liquidity in decentralized finance (DeFi).

Another prominent proposal under consideration is EIP-7732, known as Enshrined Proposer Builder Separation (ePBS). This EIP focuses on foundational slot restructuring to enable higher gas limits and increased data availability, crucial for long-term network scaling and stability. The debate within the community often weighs the immediate user experience benefits of shorter block times against the deeper architectural improvements offered by ePBS.

The community is also evaluating EIP-7805, or Fork-choice Enforced Inclusion Lists (FOCIL), which addresses censorship resistance, a core value for the Ethereum network. As stated by "terence" on social media, > "This is an exciting chance for relevant stake holders and community to voice in, what do you want to see as a main theme for glamstam? 📈scale? ✨UX? 🛡️ censorship resistance? Any voice counts." The request highlights the importance of broad stakeholder input.

The timeline for selecting Glamsterdam's "headliner" EIP has been extended to mid-August 2025 to allow for thorough technical vetting and community feedback. This extension ensures that each proposal receives in-depth analysis before final decisions are made. Glamsterdam is set to follow the "Pectra" and "Fusaka" upgrades, continuing Ethereum's roadmap towards enhanced scalability, efficiency, and decentralization.