Ethereum plans on implementing Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS) and Fork-Choice-Enforced Inclusion Lists (FOCIL) within this year’s Glamsterdam and Hegota upgrades. Both aim to uphold network decentralization and scalability while increasing speed, privacy, and security.
PBS will roll out first with the Glamsterdam fork scheduled for the first half of this year. The feature will further separate block builders and validators on Ethereum, preventing large validators from monopolizing and profiting from select transactions, a concept referred to as Maximal Extractable Value (MEV).
On the other hand, FOCIL (EIP-7805), scheduled for the 2nd half of 2026, will compel 16 randomly chosen validators to include certain transactions in their block. This will prevent transaction blocking or censoring on the grounds of perceived profitability.
In early 2026, Ethereum’s MEV rose to about $24 million in a single month. While profitable for validators, revenue-driven approaches such as front-running and sandwiching resulted in increased network congestion and gas fees for users.
PBS distributes validator power, mitigating MEV-induced centralization that was typically associated with large validators. A bigger version of FOCIL, simply known as “Big FOCIL,” would offer the same benefits as its parent, only on a much larger scale.
Source: X
Rival chain Cardano plans on offering similar benefits with the upcoming Midnight sidechain. The chain would leverage a dual tokenomics system that would enable users to hide sensitive information, including account transactions and balances. This development would also separate private and public computations, making Cardano less congested and effectively lowering gas fees. Midnight will also be regulatory compliant, which will encourage adoption among privacy-centric institutions.
At press time, both ETH (2nd by market cap) and ADA (10th by market cap) showed positive price movement following the recent broad relief rally. ETH traded at $2,042, up 6%, while ADA traded at $0.28, up 2.70% in the last 24h. Cardano also showed positive market sentiment, following the recent launch of its USDC-backed stablecoin, USDCx.
Since the two altcoins move in lockstep with Bitcoin, their future price action largely relies on whether BTC will break above $70K.
Source: CoinMarketCap
CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.
All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.
Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.
The war sent BTC to decline while premium that sent crude oil prices screamed above…
Worldcoin price underwent a strong rebound from the local lows before hitting the strong support…
Pi Network just made its most ambitious move yet, and it has nothing to do…
XRP is trading around $1.09 and sitting roughly 70% below its all-time high, but the…
BitMine Immersion Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BMNR) has emerged as one of Wall Street's fastest-growing Ethereum…
After weeks of consolidation and lower highs, the Uniswap (UNI) price is now pressing against…
