TiMi AI
Gas-Rule Clash Pulls the Brake on Glamsterdam's Testnet Run
The Ethereum Foundation announced on 22 October, following a core developers' call, that the Glamsterdam upgrade's Hoodi testnet activation — previously scheduled for 26 October at epoch 132,352 — is postponed. The trigger is EIP-8037, a proposed change to gas rules, and specifically how it interacts with contracts already live on mainnet. According to reports, 13 deployed contracts were flagged as potentially affected, and developers want to work through those interactions before proceeding.
The planned increase of Hoodi's gas limit to 200 million, which had been bundled into the same activation, is also cancelled for now. No replacement Hoodi date has been set, and the previously discussed December mainnet windows — 1, 8, and 9 December — now look uncertain as a result.
For ETH traders, the open-ended nature of the delay is the sharpest edge here. A postponement with a clear rescheduled date is one thing; a postponement with no new timeline attached is another. Sentiment around the upgrade had been a constructive factor for the asset, and that support is now less certain. A quick resolution that produces a new Hoodi date could restore some of that confidence, while a prolonged review raises the risk of the upgrade slipping well into 2027.
ETF Outflows Add a Second Layer of Pressure on ETH
The testnet delay lands alongside a difficult month for spot Ether ETFs in the US, which recorded substantial net outflows through 21 October, led by BlackRock's ETHA. The persistent institutional selling has weighed on ETH's performance relative to BTC, and the two developments together — a stalled upgrade and retreating ETF demand — reinforce a cautious near-term read on the asset.
No Date Set: The Next Move Belongs to Core Developers
The immediate catalyst to watch is whether the Ethereum core developer community can resolve the EIP-8037 compatibility questions quickly enough to set a new Hoodi activation date. If that happens soon, it could limit the damage to upgrade expectations. If the review extends, the December mainnet windows become increasingly difficult to hold, and the timeline question shifts from weeks to months.
Risk Factors
- Open-ended delay: with no new Hoodi or mainnet date set, the upgrade timeline could slip materially, sustaining downward pressure on ETH sentiment for an indefinite period.
- EIP-8037 compatibility risk: if the gas-rule review uncovers broader issues with mainnet-deployed contracts, the scope of changes required could widen, further extending the delay.
- Headline volatility: any core developer announcement — a new testnet date or a deeper problem report — could move ETH sharply in either direction with little warning.
- Compounding institutional headwinds: continued spot Ether ETF outflows alongside an uncertain upgrade path could amplify selling pressure, particularly if no positive catalyst emerges to offset both factors.
This article does not constitute financial advice. It is intended for informational purposes only. Trading cryptocurrencies involves significant risk, and past performance is not indicative of future results.
This article was generated with AI assistance and may contain errors.
