The Ethereum network successfully implemented its second Blob Parameter-Only (BPO) hard fork this past Wedn…

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The Ethereum network successfully implemented its second Blob Parameter-Only (BPO) hard fork this past Wednesday, representing a pivotal moment in the blockchain’s ongoing evolution for the year 2026. This technical upgrade, which officially took effect at 1:01:11 UTC, is designed to enhance the protocol’s scalability by refining the way data is handled on the mainnet. As the first in a series of planned network improvements aimed at scaling the Ethereum ecosystem in 2026, this hard fork focuses specifically on increasing data throughput. By optimizing blob parameters, Ethereum allows more transactions to be batched via rollups, which is essential for the network’s long-term growth strategy. The implementation of this fork follows a trajectory of improvements that prepare the underlying infrastructure for future surges in network demand. This move is part of a broader commitment to scaling the ecosystem, allowing for a higher volume of transactions to be processed while maintaining the operational integrity of the network. The success of this deployment marks a foundational achievement for developers aiming to solidify the network’s capacity. By focusing on blob parameters, the network continues to refine its throughput capabilities, ensuring that the infrastructure can keep pace with growing demand from rollup solutions.

Context

At the core of this second BPO hard fork are specific adjustments to the network’s data blob capacity, which directly impact how much information can be stored in each block. Specifically, the update has raised the maximum blob limit from 15 to 21, providing a significant increase in the potential data ceiling for the network. Alongside this, the blob target has been increased from 10 up to 14. Developers and network participants often highlight the blob target as a more important metric to watch than the maximum limit. Consistently approaching the 21-blob limit could potentially overload node bandwidth and storage. In terms of raw data, one blob unit is designed to fit 128 kilobytes of data. With these new parameters in place, Ethereum’s total data storage capacity per block has reached up to 2,688 KB. This expansion is crucial for rollups, which batch large amounts of transaction data and settle them on the mainnet. By providing more room in the form of these blobs, the network can facilitate a higher frequency of these batches, thereby increasing the overall data throughput of the entire Ethereum ecosystem. This careful calibration ensures that the network expands its capacity while managing the technical demands placed on node operators.

Impact

The broader implications of the BPO hard fork extend to the economic stability of the Ethereum network, particularly regarding transaction costs. Since the implementation of the first BPO hard fork on Dec. 9, 2025, transaction fees on the Ethereum mainnet have been far more stable. By expanding blob capacity, the network helps to stabilize gas fees as the mainnet becomes less congested. This stabilization is a key objective for the development team as they seek to make the network more accessible for everyday transactions. Beyond blobs, the development community is also looking at other ways to increase efficiency. During an Ethereum All Core Developers meeting on Dec. 15, participants discussed the idea of raising the network gas limit from 60 million to 80 million once the second BPO hard fork was implemented. Doing that would directly increase the number of transactions and smart contract operations that can fit in each Ethereum block. When combined with the increased blob throughput, these changes create a dual approach to scaling: one focused on data-heavy rollups and the other on standard execution operations. This strategy is designed to further boost overall throughput while potentially lowering fees, ensuring that the network remains capable of processing requests without extreme price volatility.

Outlook

Looking forward into 2026, the Ethereum roadmap is set to introduce even more transformative changes through the upcoming Glamsterdam hard fork. This future update is expected to allow the network gas limit to ratchet up to as high as 200 million, a massive increase from current levels. A centerpiece of the Glamsterdam upgrade is the introduction of “perfect parallel processing,” a feature that aims to revolutionize how the network handles transaction processing. This advancement will become feasible on Ethereum through Block Access Lists under Ethereum Improvement Proposal-7928 (EIP-7928). The fundamental goal of EIP-7928 is to transform Ethereum’s single-lane mode of transaction processing into a multi-lane highway where throughput is significantly increased. By moving away from sequential execution and expanding block capacity, the network is preparing for a future where it can support global-scale applications and a vastly larger user base. These improvements, starting with the BPO hard fork and leading toward the Glamsterdam update later in 2026, represent a cohesive vision for a more scalable, efficient, and powerful decentralized platform. By implementing these structural changes, Ethereum is positioning itself to handle the next generation of blockchain adoption with enhanced efficiency and increased transaction throughput.