The Ethereum Foundation recently announced its commitment to post-quantum security and the increase of gas limits as part of its strategic protocol roadmap for 2026.

The organization is revamping its development to concentrate on three pivotal areas: scalability, user experience, and Layer 1 security.

Three-Track Protocol Overhaul

As mentioned in their recent update, the Foundation aims to boost network capacity while ensuring lasting security and resilience. Rising the gas limit remains a significant goal, especially after the recent surge from 30 million to 60 million, with objectives set to exceed 100 million gas per block.

Post-quantum readiness has been recognized as a vital aspect in various areas of protocol development, especially with advancements in quantum computing that could threaten current cryptographic security measures.

Scale, Improve UX, Harden the L1

The proposed tracks are as follows:

• Scale: This track merges work from Layer 1 execution scaling with blob data availability, targeting further increases in gas limits and the implementation of essential scalability features.
• Improve UX: This segment will simplify user interactions with Ethereum and aims to transition towards natively executing smart contract wallets without introducing excessive costs to users.
• Harden the L1: Focused on ensuring Ethereum’s fundamental security characteristics, it will work on vital safety measures such as post-quantum preparedness and enhancements in transaction censorship resistance.

Future Developments

Looking forward, the Glamsterdam upgrade is projected for completion by early 2026, with the Hegotá upgrade also on the agenda. These improvements aim to introduce elevated gas limits, continued adaptations in blob scaling, and advancements in security protocols.