After a successful 2025, Ethereum developers presented an updated development plan for 2026 with a focus on scaling and protecting the network.
The Ethereum Foundation (EF), the organization behind the development and launch of the Ethereum blockchain, has presented an updated roadmap for the network's development through 2026. After two major upgrades in 2025, the team is focusing on scaling, improving the user experience, and securing the blockchain.
The next major network update will be Glamsterdam, scheduled for the first half of 2026. It will be followed by Hegota in the second half of the year. The developers' ambitions include significantly more efficient and faster transactions, further scaling of second-layer networks (Layer 2 or L2), progress in blockchain censorship resistance, new types of more functional addresses, and work on protection against quantum computers.
In the EF announcement, the developers highlighted three main areas for improving Ethereum:
Scaling. This block combines work on increasing the capacity of the blockchain itself and second-level networks (L2). Tasks include increasing the gas limit to 100 million and above, accelerating transactions through the ePBS mechanism, developing zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs, ZK) for greater efficiency, and preparing conditions for optimizing data storage.
Improving user experience. The goals of this block are to introduce smart wallets and improve interaction between different L2 networks. It also includes preparing for post-quantum security so that wallets are resistant to hacking by quantum computers.
Ethereum strengthening. A new direction designed to ensure that all improvements to the “ether” do not lead to the loss of key blockchain properties. The main properties highlighted are: security (including protection against quantum attacks), censorship resistance, and network reliability (testing updates before launch).
The successes of the previous year are highlighted separately. “2025 was one of the most productive years for the Ethereum protocol. We released two major network updates and made significant progress in all areas we undertook,” the EF blog states.
The foundation highlighted two major updates that the network underwent in 2025: Pectra in May and Fusaka in December. The first update implemented mechanisms to increase scalability, reduce transaction fees, improve staking rewards for node operators, and simplify the use of the network for end users. Fusaka also brought the network increased transaction processing speed and reduced transaction costs.
While Pectra did not have a noticeable impact on the average user, Fusaka led to significant changes. For example, transaction costs fell by about six times, down to $0.15, and the number of active daily addresses reached a record 1.65 million on February 8.
In addition, in early 2026, Ethereum developers were also very active in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. In early February, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin published a new vision for the synergy between blockchain technology, cryptography, and artificial intelligence (AI). In his message, he highlighted key development vectors for Ethereum.
A couple of weeks earlier, the development team announced the launch of a new ERC-8004 standard, which aims to create tools for blockchain interaction with artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
Despite EF's stated plans to scale Ethereum-based L2 networks, Buterin criticized this market segment at the beginning of the year, calling the previous concept “meaningless.” He also spoke sharply about privacy technologies (which became one of the main trends of 2026), stating that developers “will no longer compromise” on privacy and decentralization in exchange for mass adoption.
Working on mistakes
Of course, it is impossible to directly link the increased activity of EF in the life of the “ether” and the restructuring of the management team with price dynamics, but in 2025, the price of Ethereum reached a new high — in August, the rate reached $4,957 thousand. The growth from the low in April to the peak was almost 260%. The previous record had been held since November 2021 at $4,869. By February 19, 2026, the price had fallen by about 60% to $1,970.
A year ago, developer activity was not as noticeable. For example, in early 2025, the Ethereum Foundation faced criticism for its lack of activity in the blockchain's life. Several key developers left the organization, which also underwent a change in leadership.
Buterin, who had previously stepped back from management for several years, took sole responsibility for the EF's next steps. As a result, he announced major changes in the EF's leadership and set new goals for the foundation.
The “inaction” of the foundation, as claimed by representatives of the Ethereum community, coincided with a prolonged negative price trend for the Ethereum coin (ETH). In early 2025, ETH reached a five-year low of less than 0.018 against Bitcoin, losing more than 80% of its value against Bitcoin from its local peak in December 2021 — above 0.088.
Although the EF is not the sole body involved in project development, the fund often sets the direction for future updates. The organization also sponsors a number of developments and initiatives aimed at developing the second largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.
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