## Ethereum 2026: Protocol Upgrades Will Shape the Future of Blockchain

Ethereum is entering a critical transition phase. According to the development roadmap announced at the end of 2025, this blockchain network will undergo two major protocol upgrades in 2026 - Glamsterdam fork and Heze-Bogota fork - aimed at addressing three core challenges: transaction performance, user privacy, and censorship resistance. These changes are expected to profoundly impact how Ethereum serves DeFi applications, NFTs, and stablecoins worldwide.

### Current Market Situation and Attractiveness for Ethereum

Currently, ETH is trading at $3.15K with a market capitalization of $380.77B. Although the market has experienced correction phases, Ethereum network activity shows positive signals.

On-chain data records a strong increase in active users - within a week, active addresses rose from 496,000 to 800,000, nearly doubling. At the same time, inflows into exchanges also increased significantly, with about 400,000 ETH added to exchange balances in December, raising total reserves from 16.2 million to 16.6 million ETH. These changes reflect growing community interest in the network’s long-term prospects.

### Glamsterdam Fork: A Revolution in Speed and Processing Power

The first upgrade, Glamsterdam fork, is designed to address network congestion and high transaction fees. The main improvements of this upgrade include:

**Parallel transaction processing**: Instead of processing transactions sequentially, Ethereum will be capable of executing multiple tasks simultaneously. This is a leap forward in network architecture, allowing better utilization of node computing power.

**Increasing gas limit from 60 million to 200 million**: This will enable each block to contain more transactions, significantly reducing overload during peak periods. Transaction throughput is expected to reach 10,000 TPS (transactions per second), a huge improvement over the current level.

**Zero-knowledge (ZK) verification**: Validators will no longer need to verify the entire transaction data but only confirm ZK proofs. This method greatly reduces workload while maintaining network security.

### Heze-Bogota Fork: Protecting Privacy and Technical Independence

Alongside performance improvements, Ethereum also prioritizes user privacy and censorship resistance through the Heze-Bogota fork. This upgrade will focus on:

**Reducing dependence on centralized infrastructure**: New mechanisms will make controlling or blocking transactions more difficult, safeguarding the network’s independence.

**Enhancing user privacy**: New technology will allow users to conduct transactions without being tracked or censored.

These changes are especially important as Ethereum increasingly becomes the global infrastructure for decentralized finance applications. The mechanisms for privacy and censorship resistance will help Ethereum uphold its core values of freedom and security.

### Strategic Significance of the Two Upgrades

By combining Glamsterdam and Heze-Bogota forks, Ethereum is building a platform that is both technically robust and aligned with the core values of blockchain. The previously existing challenges - high fees, network congestion, censorship risks - will be comprehensively addressed.

This will open opportunities for sustainable growth of the DeFi, NFT, stablecoin ecosystems, and other applications operating on Ethereum. Developers believe these upgrades will help Ethereum compete more effectively with other blockchains while maintaining its leadership position in the field.

### Price Outlook and Market Sentiment

In terms of price, ETH is currently in a correction phase after reaching a low near $2,850. However, with increased community participation and positive news about upcoming upgrades, traders expect ETH to recover to around $3,390 in the medium term.

The combination of positive technical momentum, rising network activity, and long-term development prospects creates an optimistic outlook for Ethereum in 2026. These upgrades are not only technical improvements but also serve as a rallying cry for the platform’s maturation and development as the world’s leading blockchain ecosystem.