# Prysm Team's Glamsterdam Headliner

## Intro
When considering what headliner to select for Glamsterdam we looked to the [three strategic initiatives](https://protocol.ethereum.foundation/strategic-initiatives) the Ethereum Foundation has charted for the next 12 months: scaling L1 execution, scaling L2 through more blobs, and improving user experience:


Guided by binary north stars of scaling and ux, **the Prysm team has reached an internal consensus to recommend [EIP-7732](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7732) as the Glamsterdam headliner**. We believe that EIP-7732 (~~Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation~~, Execution Payload Block Separation) stands out as the only proposal that confidently delivers on L1 and L2 scaling.

## Scaling L1 and L2: Bandwidth Bottleneck
While CPU and disk can easily be increased at the node level, network limitations are more fundamental and slow to improve, with latency gains capped by the laws of physics. Ethereum's primary scaling constraint is therefore **bandwidth**.

1. The latest [Fusaka devnet report from Sunnyside Devnet](https://www.notion.so/2308fc57f5468054b18fcbff31cc032c?pvs=21) Updates confirms that bandwidth is the primary bottleneck to scaling blob count.
2. Kamil’s [stress tests](https://x.com/ChodoKamil/status/1945154735058657357) on 200MGas blocks with 4s execution time comparison before and after EIP7732


Today, we allocate a mere 2 seconds of each 12-second slot to the critical work of block
and blob propagation. EIP-7732 fundamentally restructures this allocation:

- Blob propagation time: **2s → 8-10s**
- Block propagation + execution: **2s → ~10s**

By decoupling execution processing and network propagation, EIP-7732 replaces the hardcoded slot schedule with a framework of tunable parameters, allowing the protocol to flexibly and discretely allocate time between **native execution processing** or B**lob and payload propagation** via adjustable deadlines. This is an under-appreciated scale and decentralization benefit in comparison to proposals that force tradeoffs by simply dividing the existing hardcoded constants.

## Supporting Future Roadmap Features

By delivering cleaner separation between execution and consensus layers, EIP-7732 delivers completely decouples execution validity from consensus validation. This architectural improvement:

- Reduces technical debt across the protocol
- Simplifies future development, for example, [EIP-7805](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7805) (FOCIL) can be implemented immediately with ePBS but not with Delayed Execution
- Enables independent evolution of consensus and execution layers

Every serious roadmap proposal like Attester Proposer Separation (APS), [Execution Ticket](https://ethresear.ch/t/execution-tickets/17944) (ET), and [Rainbow Staking](https://ethresear.ch/t/unbundling-staking-towards-rainbow-staking/18683) (higher-powered builders with lower-powered attesters), all of which require separation of consensus blocks from execution payloads. EIP-7732 provides the **minimal, clean implementation** of this necessary architecture. If we skip it now, we may be forced into more complex retrofitting later.

## More trustless MEV landscape

Today we rely on [trusted relays](https://mevboost.pics/) that gate access to block building. EIP-7732 democratizes out of protocol block building and reduces censorship on the builder and relayer levels

- Anyone can identify censoring builders.
- Automatic detection of malicious behavior (transaction exclusion, blob withholding).
- Trustless payment mechanisms can be built into the protocol. Proposers are guaranteed the compensation in the bids the accept, regardless of whether the Builder holds up their end of the bargain.
- Transparent builder reputation based on verifiable on-chain behavior.

Compare this to today's opaque relay system where censorship can happen invisibly, and the advantage is obvious when bringing trust in protocol.

## What about UX?

Some advocate for [EIP-7782](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7782) (6-second slots) as the user-friendly option. While shorter slots improve UX, they represent a shortsighted optimization that sacrifices long-term scalability for
immediate gratification. EIP-7782 only reduces overhead from ⅔ to ½ of slot time. Meanwhile, EIP-7732's slot restructuring minimizes overhead far more effectively, enabling both higher gas limits and more blobs within existing 12-second slots.

## Battle-Tested and Ready to Ship

- [20+ dedicated breakout sessions](https://www.google.com/search?q=youtube+eip7732+videos&rlz=1C5OZZY_enUS1165US1165&oq=youtube+eip7732+videos&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQIRgKGKABMgkIAhAhGAoYoAEyCQgDECEYChigATIJCAQQIRgKGKAB0gEIMzcwOGowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) over more than a year
- [Complete](https://github.com/ethereum/consensus-specs/blob/dev/specs/_features/eip7732/beacon-chain.md) specifications [refined](https://github.com/ethereum/consensus-specs/pull/4438) with on going spec tests in the work
- Finalized devnet implementations by both Teku and Prysm earlier this year

## Timeline and Confidence

Both EIP-7732 and EIP-7805 (FOCIL) can ship by end of 2026, providing Ethereum with:

- Scalable slot architecture ready for 4x+ L2 throughput
- Enhanced censorship resistance through transparent accountability
- Which gives us a good foundation enabling future 6-second slots without sacrificing scalability

When considering the timeline, it is important to also consider how Glamsterdam will position Ethereum for the next decade of growth.

## The Choice Is Clear

Let's be honest about the pressures facing Ethereum. Institutional adoption brings centralization forces that may threaten the network's core mission. EIP-7732 is our opportunity to strengthen
decentralization before these pressures become irreversible. If we miss this window, we may find ourselves implementing band-aid solutions on increasingly centralized infrastructure. While other proposals offer incremental improvements or narrow solutions, EIP-7732 delivers improvements across all of Ethereum’s scaling strategic priorities. It's technically mature, sound, and philosophically aligned with Ethereum's vision of decentralized and trustless vision.