Ethereum Foundation Identifies Two "Must-Ship" Proposals for Hegotä Upgrade, Prioritizing Censorship Resistance and Flexible Authentication

The Ethereum Foundation has officially identified two critical Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) that are deemed "must-ship" for the upcoming Hegotä upgrade. This strategic decision signals a focused approach to the upgrade, prioritizing enhanced censorship resistance and more adaptable account authentication methods. The selection process involved a comprehensive evaluation of 62 proposed EIPs, drawing on the collective expertise of approximately 60 researchers and engineers from the Foundation’s Protocol cluster. Notably, this marks a significant step towards unified decision-making, as it is the first instance of the Protocol cluster publishing a consolidated view of proposed EIPs, moving away from individual team opinions.

The two foundational proposals that have earned the "must-ship" designation are EIP-7805, widely known as FOCIL (Forwarding Control for Inclusion in Layers), and EIP-8141, referred to as Frame Transactions. These two EIPs have been designated as the consensus-layer and execution-layer headliners, respectively, for the Hegotä upgrade. Their inclusion is considered essential for the successful implementation and core objectives of the upgrade. The "must-ship" status implies that these proposals effectively define the scope of the Hegotä upgrade. The Foundation has stipulated that if either of these crucial proposals faces significant development or testing risks, the timeline for the Hegotä upgrade should be adjusted to accommodate their successful integration, rather than proceeding without them.

FOCIL (EIP-7805) is engineered to provide users with a direct and reliable pathway to ensure their eligible transactions are included in blocks, crucially without the necessity of relying on centralized block builders. This mechanism is designed to significantly bolster Ethereum’s inherent resistance to transaction censorship, a vital aspect of maintaining a decentralized and permissionless network. By decentralizing the inclusion process, FOCIL aims to mitigate the risk of any single entity or group having undue influence over transaction processing.

Frame Transactions (EIP-8141) introduces a pivotal advancement by enabling native account abstraction within the Ethereum protocol. This feature paves the way for more sophisticated and flexible account management, allowing for a wider range of functionalities and user experiences. Furthermore, EIP-8141 creates a forward-looking path toward post-quantum authentication. In an era where the potential threat of quantum computing looms over current cryptographic standards, this proactive measure is essential for securing Ethereum’s long-term resilience. In conjunction with two supporting companion proposals, the changes introduced by Frame Transactions could also lay the groundwork for protocol-level building blocks specifically designed to enhance privacy applications on the Ethereum network. This integration of privacy-focused features at the protocol level is a significant development for users seeking greater confidentiality in their on-chain activities.

Beyond the two "must-ship" proposals, the Ethereum Foundation has categorized the remaining 62 evaluated EIPs into several tiers, providing a clear roadmap for the Hegotä upgrade’s development. Fifteen proposals have been placed in the "A-tier," signifying that they are strongly expected to be included in the upgrade. However, their inclusion is contingent upon the absence of unforeseen development or testing constraints that might necessitate their deferral or removal.

An additional eight proposals are currently considered "candidates for inclusion," indicating that they are under serious consideration and could be integrated into Hegotä if resources and timelines permit. Seven proposals have been placed "below the line" but have not been definitively ruled out, suggesting they may be considered for future upgrades or under specific circumstances. Finally, 28 proposals were declined, meaning they will not be part of the Hegotä upgrade.

Two proposals remain unranked, awaiting the availability of mainnet data from Glamsterdam, the Ethereum upgrade that precedes Hegotä. The Glamsterdam upgrade is primarily focused on enhancing network scalability and strengthening the foundational layers of Ethereum. The insights and performance data derived from Glamsterdam’s deployment will be crucial in informing the final decisions on these two outstanding proposals for Hegotä. According to the Ethereum Foundation, client teams are anticipated to commence the implementation of Hegotä in late 2026, following the successful rollout and analysis of the Glamsterdam upgrade.

Ethereum’s most recent major upgrade, Fusaka, was successfully deployed on December 3, 2025. The Fusaka upgrade brought a suite of significant scaling and usability improvements to the network. Its headline feature, PeerDAS (Decentralized Availability Sampling), revolutionized how nodes handle rollup data. This enhancement reduced the volume of data that individual nodes are required to download and upload, thereby increasing the overall data capacity for Ethereum’s layer-2 scaling solutions. The success of Fusaka has set a precedent for the careful and strategic implementation of network upgrades designed to enhance Ethereum’s capabilities and user experience.

The rigorous evaluation and prioritization process for the Hegotä upgrade underscores the Ethereum Foundation’s commitment to a methodical and community-driven approach to network evolution. The focus on censorship resistance and adaptable authentication, as embodied by FOCIL and Frame Transactions, highlights the ongoing dedication to maintaining Ethereum’s core principles of decentralization, security, and user empowerment. The Foundation’s transparent communication and detailed ranking of EIPs provide valuable clarity to developers, researchers, and the broader Ethereum community regarding the future direction of the network. The upcoming Hegotä upgrade, with its emphasis on these critical advancements, is poised to further solidify Ethereum’s position as a leading platform for decentralized applications and innovation.