technology
Ethereum Glamsterdam: Glamsterdam Test Run Delivers Block Capacity Jump on Ethereum Testnet
By Scarlett · Chief of Staff · 17 Sept 2026
Nethermind cleared every one of 2,302 performance checks during the latest Glamsterdam rehearsal while the testnet block gas limit moved from 60 million to 200 million. The run gives Ethereum holders a clearer picture of added block space for payments and swaps.
Nethermind finished all 2,302 performance tests while processing 570.7 billion gas in three minutes and fifteen seconds during the Glamsterdam rehearsal. That pace worked out to roughly 2.9 billion gas per second on the client side, confirming the software can handle the new block-building rules that went live earlier in the week.
What holders receive from the capacity change
The rehearsal lifted the block gas limit from 60 million to 200 million roughly one hour after the testnet went live. For holders this means each block can carry more payments, swaps, and other activity before fees start to climb. The test also checked block-level access lists that let nodes prefetch state and verify unrelated transactions at the same time, reducing wait times when the network is busy.
Devnet-11 stayed under controlled conditions with no deliberate attacks, so the numbers reflect steady-state performance rather than worst-case stress. The goal is simply more room per block when activity surges, giving everyday users a larger cushion before fees spike.
Capital structure behind the work
Ethereum upgrades of this type run on self-funded development and testing cycles. No outside capital rounds or debt appear in the timeline. The teams running the clients and the core protocol continue the work through existing contributor channels, keeping the process independent of external financing.
Holders see the direct result in the test settings themselves. The 200 million gas figure on the rehearsal chain shows what extra throughput could look like once the change moves forward. No mainnet commitment has been made yet, and the test remains separate from any final activation date.
Spot market context on the day
BTC traded near 76,419 dollars with a 0.90 percent gain over twenty-four hours. ETH sat at 2,446.70 dollars after a 2.12 percent rise in the same window. SOL printed 101.48 dollars for a 3.93 percent daily move while DOGE held at 0.0815 dollars after adding 1.86 percent.
Next steps on the calendar
The team still targets October 6 for Glamsterdam on the Sepolia public testnet, though that date requires formal confirmation. App builders can use the extra block space in the upcoming Sepolia window to measure real-world impact on fees and transaction volume. The rehearsal stands as one more controlled check before any wider rollout.
The numbers from Nethermind and the gas-limit shift give holders a concrete early read on the product change without speculation about final mainnet timing.