Ethereum News Today: Ethereum Delays Fusaka to Prioritize Stability Over Speed

Ethereum developers have outlined a revised timeline for the Fusaka network upgrade, shifting focus to ensure stability and thorough testing before public deployment. The decision, taken during the ACDE Call 218, reflects a broader strategy to avoid potential disruptions and maintain the integrity of the upgrade process. Originally, the Fusaka upgrade was set for a three-step rollout with client releases on 8 September 2025 and fork activations by late September. However, concerns over the instability of Devnet-4, including bugs in execution and consensus clients, peer discovery issues, and errors in blob-fee calculations, prompted the delay [1].

Under the new approach, all public testnet and client release dates will be deferred until the Devnet-5 testnet is fully stable and free of major issues. Devnet-5 will integrate fixes from Devnet-4, pass updated static tests, and incorporate better representation of minority clients to mirror real-world conditions on the Ethereum mainnet. The revised plan also mandates that all code must be merged into main branches prior to scheduling, eliminating reliance on unstable feature branches [1].

Separately, Ethereum researchers have released a new protocol update aimed at expanding blob throughput to support layer-2 scalability. The update, which follows Protocol Update 001, introduces PeerDAS (EIP-7594), a key design element of the Fusaka upgrade. This mechanism allows nodes to sample rather than fully download blob data, potentially increasing throughput by up to eight times without significantly raising hardware requirements [2]. Additionally, “Blob Parameter Only” (BPO) forks are expected to incrementally increase blob limits between major upgrades, while cell-level messaging optimizations aim to reduce redundant data transfers.

The Fusaka upgrade is now targeting an early November mainnet launch, a schedule that aligns with the upcoming Devconnect Buenos Aires event. Public testnet deployments are currently underway on devnets, with client teams preparing for wider deployment in September and October. The update also signals plans for the subsequent network upgrade, Glamsterdam, expected around mid-2026. This upgrade will build on PeerDAS by introducing advanced networking and pipelining techniques, further enhancing scalability and performance [2].

Developers emphasized that the revised timeline and technical adjustments are necessary to mitigate risks associated with an unstable release. By prioritizing stability and testing, Ethereum’s upgrade process aims to ensure a seamless transition to mainnet, reducing the likelihood of costly rollbacks or unforeseen disruptions. The move underscores the project’s commitment to maintaining decentralization and censorship resistance while advancing scalability [2].

Source:

[1] Fusaka Timelines Delayed as Developers Prioritise Stability (https://etherworld.co/2025/08/16/fusaka-timelines-delayed-as-developers-prioritise-stability/)

[2] Ethereum protocol update details plan to boost transaction ... (https://blockworks.co/news/ethereum-protocol-update-blobs)