Ethereum’s efforts to enhance scalability ignite discussion over validators leaving the network

The Fusaka hard fork for Ethereum, which is set for December 3, 2025, is designed to boost the network’s scalability and increase blob capacity, while also refining how validators exit the system. As part of Ethereum’s biannual upgrade cadence, Fusaka will deliver several important

Improvement Proposals (EIPs). Notably, PeerDAS (EIP-7594) will introduce data availability sampling, reducing the bandwidth needed by validators. With this change, the number of blobs per block is expected to rise from 6 to 48, paving the way for a substantial jump in Layer 2 (L2) network throughput Ethereum’s Fusaka Upgrade Confirmed for December 3, 2025 [ 1 ]. Other enhancements include on-the-fly blob parameter tuning via Blob Parameter Only (BPO) forks, an increase of the gas limit to 150 million, and improved smart contract performance thanks to EIP-7951, which introduces secp256r1 elliptic curve support Ethereum Faces Alt-Season Pressure: Why Fusaka… [ 2 ].

Fusaka’s rollout comes with a carefully planned testing phase, beginning with Devnet-3 in July 2025 and extending to public testnets like Holesky, Sepolia, and Hoodi. A bug bounty program worth $2 million, jointly funded by

and Lido, encourages security experts to uncover and report vulnerabilities before the mainnet launch. This contest, which runs until October 13, features rewards for early findings and highlights Ethereum’s proactive approach to network security Ethereum Opens $2 Million Bug Hunt for Fusaka Upgrade [ 3 ]. Despite this, developers admit that delays could occur if issues are found on testnets, but the team is still targeting a December mainnet release Ethereum Foundation Launches $2M Audit for Fusaka Hardfork [ 4 ].

Validator activity shows a rise in exit pressure, with 2.6 million ETH (valued at $12 billion) queued to exit by late September 2025. This trend points to more users unstaking, influenced by changing yields and market conditions. Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s co-founder, has defended the lengthy exit queue as a means of safeguarding the network’s integrity, even as some DeFi participants, such as Galaxy Digital’s Michael Marcantonio, voice concerns Ethereum's Fusaka Hard Fork To Go Live On December 3 [ 5 ]. The current 43-day exit wait has sparked ongoing debate about validator incentives and the level of decentralization on the network Fusaka Hard Fork Primes Ethereum for Better… [ 6 ].

Reactions to Fusaka’s market impact are varied. Although the update is projected to reduce L2 transaction expenses and make node operation more accessible, Ethereum still faces stiff competition from platforms like

, which are known for their faster speeds and lower costs. Observers believe the real test for Fusaka will be whether its technical improvements translate into lower fees and greater transaction activity for users Ethereum Faces Alt-Season Pressure: Why Fusaka… [ 7 ]. This upgrade fits into Ethereum’s broader “Surge” roadmap, which emphasizes scaling and seamless integration with traditional web infrastructure Fusaka: Everything to Know About the Ethereum Upgrade [ 8 ].

After Fusaka, Ethereum plans to launch more BPO forks in early 2026 to keep scaling blob capacity. These stepwise updates are intended to balance growing L2 needs with validator accessibility, allowing solo stakers to remain involved without overwhelming bandwidth demands. Looking ahead, the Glamsterdam upgrade is slated for early 2026, bringing further networking and pipelining improvements Ethereum Protocol Update Details Plan to Boost Transaction… [ 9 ]. Together, these initiatives reinforce Ethereum’s standing as a core platform for decentralized applications.