Ethereum News Today: Ethereum Targets 10,000 TPS in 2026 as ZK Proofs Drive 'Merge-Like' Shift

Ethereum researchers and developers are eyeing 2026 as a pivotal year for the blockchain to unlock exponential scalability via zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs. By then, some validators will stop re-executing transactions and instead directly validate ZK proofs- a fundamental shift in how the network operates, on par with the 2022 merge from proof-of-work (PoW) to proof-of-stake (PoS). This change could potentially take Ethereum from its current 30 transactions per second to up to 10,000 transactions per second.

Ethereum researcher Justin Drake noted that initial validators will validate ZK proofs for each block rather than re-running all transactions, delivering instant scalability to Layer 1 and laying the groundwork for a future 10,000 transactions per second. This shift is expected to slash hardware requirements for validator nodes while preserving network decentralization, allowing more participants to join the network.

During Devconnet, Drake demonstrated that ZK proof validation can run on an old laptop. By the end of 2026, around 10% of validators are expected to switch to ZK validation mode (Lean Execution Phase 1).

. This shift will slash hardware requirements for validator nodes while preserving network decentralization.

Key Changes on the Ethereum Roadmap

Ethereum is currently in Phase 0 (voluntary validation). It's set to enter Phase 1 (partial validator switch) in 2026, then move to Phase 2 in 2027, where block producers will be required to generate ZK proofs to achieve full ZK rollup execution. This transition is part of a broader effort to make Ethereum more scalable and efficient.

A significant number of validators will switch over from re-executing transactions to verifying zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs instead. This sets the Ethereum layer 1 on a path to scale up to 10,000 transactions per second (TPS) and potentially beyond, though that target won't be hit in 2026 according to analysts. Meanwhile, data blobs will increase (potentially up to 72 or more per block), enabling the layer 2s (L2s) to process hundreds of thousands of transactions per second.

The coming year will see perfect parallel processing, big increases in the gas limit and number of data blobs, and 10% of Ethereum's network switching to ZK. Ethereum developers are currently finalizing what Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) should be included in the Glamsterdam hard fork, expected in mid-2026. The confirmed headliner changes are Block Access Lists and Enshrined Proposer Builder Separation.

Implications for Validators and Block Builders

Gary Schulte, an engineer with Ethereum's Besu client, pointed out that future computationally heavy work will fall primarily to block builders and ZK provers according to Ethereum research. Regular validators, meanwhile, will only need to perform lightweight verification- clearing the path for higher gas limits and overall throughput.

Block Access Lists, part of the Glamsterdam fork, although it may sound like a censorship scheme, the upgrade actually makes "perfect" parallel block processing possible according to market analysis. This change allows Ethereum to run in multiple lanes instead of a single-lane queue, enabling more transactions to be processed simultaneously.

L2s are becoming easier to use as well; ZKsync's recent Atlas upgrade allows funds to stay on mainnet but trade in the fast execution environment of chains in ZKsync's Elastic Network. The planned Ethereum Interoperability Layer will enable seamless cross-chain operation among L2s, privacy will take center stage, and improved censorship resistance is targeted for the Heze-Bogota fork at the end of the year.

Looking Ahead

Ethereum in 2026 will see the introduction of the Glamsterdam fork, bringing about significant changes to how transactions are processed and validated. These changes are designed to increase scalability and efficiency while maintaining security and decentralization. The focus is on enabling Ethereum to handle a much higher volume of transactions without compromising the integrity of the network.

Ethereum developers are aiming for a future where the network can process transactions at a rate that matches or exceeds traditional financial systems. This ambition is part of a broader trend in blockchain development, where scalability and performance are critical for adoption. The changes expected in 2026 are a step toward achieving this goal.