Ethereum's 2026 Roadmap: A Technical Stand for Network Neutrality

Ethereum's Hegotá upgrade, featuring the FOCIL proposal (EIP-7805), aims to prevent transaction censorship by forcing block inclusion, alongside native account abstraction.

A pivotal protocol change slated for Ethereum in 2026 aims to fortify the network against transaction censorship. Developers have designated a proposal known as FOCIL as the cornerstone of the planned Hegotá upgrade. While highly technical, this move represents a fundamental choice about preserving the system's operational neutrality.

The Core Conflict: Efficiency vs. Censorship Resistance

The current Ethereum block production model relies heavily on specialized block builders for efficiency. This setup, however, creates a potential vulnerability. If a builder chooses to exclude certain transactions—whether due to regulatory pressure or self-interest—those transactions can be delayed or even prevented from processing entirely.

The FOCIL proposal, formally EIP-7805, directly addresses this bottleneck. Its mechanism randomly selects 17 validators per block to submit lists of valid transactions from the public mempool. Block producers are then required to include these transactions. Failure to do so risks the block being rejected by the network. The design ensures no single entity controls transaction inclusion, with the goal of having valid transactions typically confirmed within one to two slots, even if other parties attempt to interfere.

Hegotá: A Broader Push for Protocol-Level Capabilities

FOCIL is not an isolated change. The Hegotá upgrade is also expected to incorporate EIP-8141, a second major component designed to embed advanced wallet and account functionality natively into the protocol. This includes support for smart contract wallets, multi-signature setups, quantum-resistant wallets, and enhanced privacy tools. Collectively, these changes shift significant functionality from auxiliary infrastructure into Ethereum's base layer.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has publicly endorsed the FOCIL approach, framing it as a realignment with the network's core "cypherpunk" principles of neutrality and resistance. The plan is not without controversy, however. Developer Ameen Soleimani has cautioned that forcing the inclusion of transactions from sanctioned addresses could expose validators to increased legal risk. This highlights the ongoing tension between the pursuit of technical neutrality and the realities of the global regulatory landscape.

Timeline, Context, and Implementation Hurdles

The FOCIL implementation is part of a two-phase plan for 2026. The first half of the year is expected to see the "Glamsterdam" upgrade, focusing on ePBS (EIP-7732), increased gas limits targeting over 100 million, and scaling of blob parameters. Hegotá, combining ePBS, FOCIL, and native account abstraction into a comprehensive package for censorship resistance and improved user functionality, is scheduled for the latter half of the year.

This ambitious technical roadmap unfolds against a challenging market backdrop. Ethereum currently trades at $1,846.64, reflecting a decline of 5.50%. In the short term, investor risk aversion appears to be a more immediate concern than protocol features.

The true test for FOCIL will come not in headlines but in execution during the second half of 2026. Success hinges on client teams seamlessly integrating the changes into the consensus and execution layers. Furthermore, the practical and legal handling of the "force-inclusion" mechanism will be critical in determining the upgrade's ultimate impact.