Deep Dive
1. Fusaka Upgrade (3 Dec 2025)
Overview: The Fusaka hard fork will activate PeerDAS (Peer Data Availability Sampling), increasing Ethereum’s blob capacity from 6 to 14 per block. This enables Layer 2 rollups like Arbitrum and Base to process ~12,000 transactions per second (CryptoGucci).
What this means: Bullish for ETH’s utility as L2 fees could drop by 40–60%, driving adoption of DeFi and dApps. Risks include potential delays in testnet rollouts (Holešky on 1 Oct, Sepolia on 14 Oct).
2. Account Abstraction (Q4 2025)
Overview: EIP-7702 enables regular wallets to temporarily act as smart contracts, allowing gas-free transactions, batch operations, and recovery features without middleware (Ethereum.org).
What this means: Neutral-to-bullish shift. While improving user experience for 98M+ wallets, adoption depends on exchanges/apps integrating the standard.
3. Stateless Clients (2026)
Overview: Stateless clients will verify blocks without storing full historical data, cutting node storage needs from ~20TB to <2TB. This lowers barriers for validators and enhances decentralization (Ethresear.ch).
What this means: Bullish long-term, as more participants can run nodes. However, implementation relies on advanced zero-knowledge proofs still in testing.
4. Quantum Resistance (2026+)
Overview: The “Ethereum Lean Plan” aims to replace ECDSA signatures with quantum-safe alternatives like STARKs, ensuring the network withstands attacks from future quantum computers (CoinMarketCap).
What this means: Neutral short-term but critical for institutional confidence. Risks include potential compatibility issues with existing smart contracts.
Conclusion
Ethereum’s roadmap balances immediate scalability (Fusaka, account abstraction) with foundational upgrades (stateless clients, quantum defenses). The focus on Layer 2 efficiency and validator decentralization could solidify ETH’s role as the backbone of Web3.
How will Ethereum’s evolving security model impact its competition with Solana and Bitcoin in institutional portfolios?