Ethereum Fusaka Upgrade to Boost Gas Limit to 60M

The Fusaka upgrade represents a significant acceleration in Ethereum’s development timeline, with developers moving the expected mainnet release forward from its previously tentative December schedule. According to confirmation from Ethereum Foundation contributor Tim Beiko during the All Core Devs Execution (ACDE) #221 call on September 25, the decision to lift the gas limit to 60 million units signals a coordinated attempt to boost the volume of transactions processed in each block. Former Galaxy Digital researcher Christine Kim described the timing as “an impressive lift,” highlighting the development team’s aggressive approach to addressing scaling challenges as network demand continues to grow.

This upgrade marks the third gas limit increase in 2025 alone, following February’s adjustment to approximately 36 million units and July’s increase to 45 million. The consistent upward trajectory underscores how scaling remains central to Ethereum’s roadmap, with each incremental increase designed to accommodate more transactions per block while maintaining network stability. The rapid succession of these upgrades demonstrates the Ethereum development community’s responsiveness to market demands and their commitment to improving network efficiency amid increasing adoption of both Layer-1 applications and Layer-2 scaling solutions.

The gas limit increase to 60 million units carries significant technical implications for Ethereum’s performance capabilities. Gas on Ethereum measures the computational power required to execute on-chain actions such as sending tokens, swapping assets, or deploying smart contracts. According to leading staking provider Everstake, higher gas limits enable “more transactions per block, higher throughput, and better efficiency” across both Layer-1 and Layer-2 systems. This efficiency gain is particularly crucial as Ethereum continues to serve as the foundational layer for an expanding ecosystem of decentralized applications and scaling solutions.

Performance projections for the Fusaka upgrade are substantial, with developers expecting a 33% boost in Layer-1 performance alongside a 133% increase in Layer-2 capacity before the end of the year. These improvements could fundamentally enhance Ethereum’s competitiveness against other smart contract platforms by reducing transaction costs and increasing network capacity. The timing of these enhancements is strategically important as the blockchain industry prepares for another potential cycle of increased adoption and transaction volume, positioning Ethereum to better handle spikes in demand without the congestion issues that have plagued the network in previous bull markets.

The implementation of the new gas limit follows Ethereum’s established consensus rules, requiring validator approval before activation. According to Everstake, once a majority of validators—at least 50%—signal approval, the new 60 million cap will be activated automatically. Current data from Gaslimits shows that 17% of Ethereum validators already support increasing the limit to 60 million, indicating early but growing consensus within the validator community. This governance mechanism ensures that changes to fundamental network parameters reflect the will of those securing the blockchain while maintaining Ethereum’s decentralized decision-making structure.

The upgrade process begins with testnet activations scheduled for October, allowing developers and validators to test the new gas limit in a controlled environment before mainnet deployment. This phased approach minimizes risks associated with network upgrades while providing an opportunity to identify and address potential issues. The accelerated timeline from the originally planned December release to October testnets suggests both confidence in the upgrade’s stability and urgency in addressing current scaling needs. The mainnet release is expected to follow quickly after successful testnet validation, potentially positioning Ethereum for significantly enhanced capacity heading into 2026.

Despite the clear scaling benefits, the gas limit increase isn’t without controversy within the Ethereum community. The debate reflects a fundamental tension between immediate scalability needs and long-term network health. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has long supported gradual increases to ease congestion, representing one side of the discussion that favors measured, incremental improvements to maintain network stability. This cautious approach aligns with Buterin’s historical stance on balancing innovation with network security and decentralization.

On the other side of the debate, some community members caution that pushing gas limits too high or too quickly could place heavier loads on nodes, potentially widening the gap between professional validators and smaller participants. This concern touches on broader issues of network centralization, as increased resource requirements could make it more difficult for individual validators to compete with large staking services. The discussion highlights the ongoing challenge of scaling a decentralized network while preserving its foundational principles, with the Fusaka upgrade serving as the latest chapter in Ethereum’s evolution toward greater capacity without compromising its decentralized nature.