Ethereum postponed the Hoodi testnet fork for its Glamsterdam upgrade this week. Security firm ChainSecurity flagged gas-metering changes that could let smart contracts lock in failures, citing 13 real-world cases. The delay matters because it shows Ethereum still prioritizes mainnet safety over shipping schedules. Billions of dollars in contracts depend on that promise.
What actually happened
ChainSecurity identified gas changes in the Glamsterdam upgrade that could let contracts lock in failures once deployed, according to Decrypt. The firm cited 13 real-world cases. Ethereum developers pulled the Hoodi testnet fork rather than proceed with the flaw unresolved.
Elsewhere, Base active addresses jumped another 50%, according to The Defiant. Transactions fell 8.7% and dollar-denominated user fees dropped 20% on 22 October 2026, during an ongoing GMGN trading competition.
ETH traded at $2,292, a change of -4.49% over 24 hours. The 24-hour range ran from $2,331 to $2,411, on $9.06 billion in trading volume and a $279.95 billion market capitalisation.
How we got here
Ethereum's upgrade path runs through multiple testnets, including Hoodi, before changes reach mainnet. That sequence exists to catch exactly this kind of flaw before real funds are at risk. Glamsterdam is the network's next major coordinated upgrade after Pectra, and gas metering sits at the center of how contracts price computation and fail safely. The Starknet vote adds a separate thread. It only approves research into a post-quantum Layer 1 transition, not a final decision. A draft whitepaper is due in November. Both stories point to the same theme, Ethereum's base layer and its largest rollups are each reassessing fundamentals rather than rushing new features.
Why this matters for you
For holders, the delay is a routine but reassuring signal, Ethereum's process still stops releases when security firms raise real concerns. For builders deploying on or ahead of Glamsterdam, timelines slip. Contracts relying on current gas assumptions should wait for a revised testnet date before testing against new rules. For Base users and traders, falling fees and rising active addresses suggest cheaper access is pulling in more participants, even as per-user activity declines. If Starknet's research proceeds, builders on that network could eventually face a different trust model, independent from Ethereum's validator set.
The bigger question
How much should a network slow its roadmap every time an auditor finds a flaw with limited real-world cases so far? Ethereum chose caution over 13 cited cases. Rollups like Starknet are asking a related question from the other direction. How much independence from Ethereum's security is acceptable before a Layer 2 stops being one? Neither question has a settled answer yet.
What to watch
StarkWare plans to release its Layer 1 transition whitepaper in November 2026. GMX's tokenomics changes take effect on 28 October 2026. Ethereum has not yet set a new date for the Hoodi testnet fork. Watch for Ethereum client teams to publish a revised Hoodi activation height once the gas fix is merged. Base's fee and transaction trends after the GMGN competition ends will show whether the current address growth holds.
This article is information, not financial advice. Prices are a snapshot and change constantly. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Do your own research.
