Ethereum Foundation 2026 Roadmap: Scaling to 100M+ Gas, ePBS, zkEVMs and Quantum-Ready Security
The Ethereum Foundation published a 2026 protocol roadmap focused on three pillars: scaling, protocol security, and improved user experience. Major technical proposals include a phased increase of the per-block gas limit toward 100+ million units (from ~30M), expanded blob parameters for greater rollup data availability, accelerated development of multiple zkEVM clients, and enhanced Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS) to reduce validator centralization and improve censorship resistance. Security work covers censorship-resistance measures, multi-layered audits, formal verification, expanded bug bounties, validator tooling, and research into quantum-resistant cryptography with transition planning starting in 2025. The Foundation plans 2025 research/specification work, late-2025 testnet deployments, and staged mainnet activations through 2026, coordinating with client teams, validators and the wider community. The roadmap is a proposal requiring community consensus and validator activation; it aims to lower Layer 2 fees, raise throughput, diversify zkEVM implementations, and future-proof Ethereum against cryptographic threats.
Bullish
Overall the roadmap is bullish for Ethereum from a fundamental and trader perspective. Key scaling measures — higher gas limits and expanded blob parameters — directly target throughput and Layer 2 costs, which should improve user activity and on-chain volume over time. Multiple zkEVM clients and ePBS reduce single-point failures and centralization risks; increased client diversity and decentralization are viewed positively by markets because they lower systemic risk. Security work and quantum-preparation are long-term positives that reduce existential risk, supporting investor confidence. Short-term volatility is possible around testnet launches, parameter-change proposals and community governance debates; uncertainty around implementation timing and technical risk could produce sell-the-news events. Historically, clear protocol roadmaps (e.g., the Merge, Dencun/London upgrades) have supported medium-term price appreciation as developer activity, usage, and positive sentiment rose. Therefore, while immediate price reaction may be mixed, the net impact is positive for ETH’s fundamentals and adoption prospects, favoring a bullish outlook for mid-to-long-term market behavior.