Ethereum Fusaka upgrade set for December 3 launch

The network upgrade introduces PeerDAS, phased blob expansion, and audits as Ethereum pursues greater scalability and efficiency

by Blockworks /
article-image

spainter_vfx/Shutterstock and Adobe modified by Blockworks

share

Ethereum core developers have confirmed that the Fusaka upgrade will activate on December 3, marking the network’s next major protocol milestone aimed at scaling throughput and reducing costs.

The upgrade will roll out after testnet deployments on Holesky, Sepolia, and Hoodi in October. In parallel, the Ethereum Foundation launched a $2 million Fusaka audit contest on Sept. 15, co‑sponsored by Gnosis and Lido and hosted on Sherlock, which will run for four weeks to identify potential vulnerabilities before mainnet activation.

The December mainnet date reflects discussions during All Core Developers Consensus (ACDC) Call #165, where developers agreed Fusaka could go live no earlier than 30 days after the Hoodi testnet fork.

Fusaka introduces Peer Data Availability Sampling (PeerDAS) through EIP‑7594, a mechanism allowing nodes to verify only parts of large data blobs rather than the entire dataset. This reduces bandwidth strain and helps scale blob storage, which underpins layer‑2 rollup efficiency.

Ethereum Blob Utilization | Blockworks Research

Blockworks Research data shows blob utilization currently averages above 90% for major rollups, with Arbitrum One at 99.6% and OP Mainnet at 99.2%. Median blob fees range from $0.49–$3.05 per MiB, highlighting tight capacity. Fusaka’s BPO forks aim to ease this saturation by expanding blob limits, supporting sustained throughput without pricing out rollups.

Following Fusaka’s activation, Ethereum will deploy two Blob Parameter Only (BPO) forks. The first, scheduled for around December 17, will increase maximum blob counts from 9 to 15; the second, planned for January 7, 2026, will raise the ceiling to 21. These lightweight forks adjust blob parameters without requiring client updates, according to Ethereum researcher Christine Kim.

This is a developing story.


This article was generated with the assistance of AI and reviewed by editor Jeffrey Albus before publication.


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Upcoming Events

Javits Center North | 445 11th Ave

Tues - Thurs, March 24 - 26, 2026

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Monad SR Report Graphic.png

Research

Monad is a new Layer 1 blockchain designed as a high performance, EVM-compatible platform.

article-image

Engineers from MetaMask, Coinbase, Google, and the Ethereum Foundation make the case for onchain AI agents via ERC-8004

article-image

Legacy payments firm partners with Anchorage Digital to issue a dollar-pegged token under new US stablecoin law

by Blockworks /
article-image

As Solana ETFs launch but network REV trends lower, Jito sits at the intersection of new capital inflows and microstructure improvements

article-image

The Truth Social parent will integrate Crypto.com Derivatives North America, allowing users to trade prediction contracts under federal oversight

by Blockworks /
article-image

Partnership surpasses $2 billion in staked assets and adds support for new Proof-of-Stake networks

by Blockworks /
article-image

The tokenization leader will merge with Cantor Equity Partners II, becoming the first public firm focused on securities tokenization

by Blockworks /