# Ethereal news weekly #7

> Ethereum must pass walkaway test, Base app focuses on trading, Trail of Bits Claude Code skills

Date: 2026-01-16
Source: https://ethereal.news/ethereal-news-weekly-7/
Editor: Andrew B Coathup

Ethereum must pass walkaway test, Base app focuses on trading, Trail of Bits Claude Code skills

### Ecosystem

* Vitalik: [Ethereum must pass walkaway test](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethereum/comments/1qbj1wd/ethereum_itself_must_pass_the_walkaway_test/), add features (not halfway fixes) so we can ossify (if we want to), future innovation via client optimization & parameter changes (by validator voting) rather than network upgrades  
  * Features include: quantum-resistance, scaling (via ZK-EVM validation & data sampling), partial statelessness & state expiry, account abstraction, gas pricing free of DoS vulnerabilities, PoS economic model decentralized for decades and censorship & centralization resistant block building  
* PSE: [privacy experience quantitative survey results](https://pse.dev/blog/px-user-survey-2025) (75 users), gap in adoption not from lack of interest but experience failures  
* ETH metrics:  
  * [Gas](https://ultrasound.money/#gas) (gwei): 0.1 average, 0.0 \- 1.9 (12.3 for zero net issuance)  
  * [ETHUSD](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/ethereum): $3,066 \- $3,380 (all time high $4,946, August 24, 2025\)  
  * [ETH ETFs](https://dune.com/hildobby/eth-etfs): 5% of ETH supply  
  * [ETHBTC](https://ratiogang.com/): 0.035 (0.166 for the Flippening)

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### Enterprise

* [Ingenico](https://ingenico.com/us-en/newsroom/press-releases/ingenico-launches-digital-currency-solution-enabling-stablecoin-payments): merchant payment terminals can accept stablecoins via WalletConnect Pay

### Applications

* Vitalik calls for [decentralized applications](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethereum/comments/1qcg3jc/the_web3_vision_of_decentralized_applications/) & [better decentralized stablecoins](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethereum/comments/1qbj1jg/we_need_better_decentralized_stablecoins/)  
* [Base app](https://x.com/jessepollak/status/2011518342616793184) (wallet \+ Farcaster based social) switches focus to trading first  
* Hinkal [private send](https://x.com/hinkal_protocol/status/2011171294318838092), split across multiple recipients & time windows  
* Ethereum Foundation dAI team: [ERC8004 explainer](https://x.com/VittoStack/status/2009637427397193765), discovery & trust layer for AI agents via onchain registries for identity, reputation & validation  
* YO (yield aggregator) [automated swap created $3.7M shortfall](https://www.yo.xyz/blog/post/youusd-incident-postmortem-automated-harvest-swap-jan-12-2026), covered by treasury

### Developers

* Argot [roadmap](https://www.argot.org/blog/2026-01-15-argot-roadmap-update-2026-1): milestones & priorities for Solidity, Fe, Sourcify, ethdebug, Act & hevm  
* Hardhat [v3.1.4](https://github.com/NomicFoundation/hardhat/releases/tag/hardhat%403.1.4) (dev framework): adds HTML coverage report & fixes code coverage calculation  
* Slither [0.11.4](https://github.com/crytic/slither/releases/tag/0.11.4) (static analyzer): adds CLZ opcode support, Solidity custom storage layouts & unindexed event address detector  
* [Browser RPC](https://github.com/gskril/browser-rpc#readme) (proxy server): sign transactions from scripts (Foundry, Hardhat & viem) via browser wallet  
* [Quixote](https://github.com/bilinearlabs/quixote#readme) (indexer): index events (requires RPC) & then query (SQL); inbuilt front end  
* Optimism [actions](https://actions.optimism.io/) (TypeScript SDK): modules to integrate DeFi into applications; developer preview  
* x402 hackathon: [winning projects](https://x.com/austingriffith/status/2011108282648445294) (selected by Austin Griffith)  
* Ethereum Community Foundation:   
  * [Ethereum MCP](https://github.com/ETHCF/ethereum-mcp#readme) (Model Context Protocol) query Ethereum using Claude; data sources: Etherscan, DeFiLlama, CoinGecko, growthepie, Blobscan & Dune    
* Application layer standards (ERCs):  
  * [ERC8124](https://github.com/ethereum/ERCs/pull/1465/files): ERC20 alias metadata extension  
  * [ERC8126](https://github.com/ethereum/ERCs/pull/1475/files): AI agent registration & verification  
  * [ERC8127](https://github.com/ethereum/ERCs/pull/1476/files): Human readable token identifiers

### Security

* Futureswap [\~$470k over two exploits](https://x.com/Phalcon_xyz/status/2011404828115866061) on Arbitrum  
* Sigma Prime: [Fusaka upgrade impact on contract security](https://blog.sigmaprime.io/fusaka-contract-security.html)  
* Trail of Bits: [Claude Code skills](https://github.com/trailofbits/skills#readme) for security research, vulnerability detection & audit workflows  
* Security Alliance (SEAL): [DPRK group Contagious Interview](https://radar.securityalliance.org/vs-code-tasks-abuse-by-contagious-interview-dprk/) use VS Code tasks as attack vector; disable allow automatic tasks in VS Code settings

### All core devs (main protocol calls)

[Tim Beiko](https://x.com/i/status/2009625017554772107) moving on from L1 R\&D to explore frontier use cases

#### All core devs \- execution (ACDE) [\#228](https://forkcast.org/calls/acde/228)

* [Glamsterdam](https://forkcast.org/upgrade/glamsterdam) upgrade (targeting June 2026):  
  * [Bal-devnet-2](https://notes.ethereum.org/@ethpandaops/bal-devnet-2): spec clarification discussions for non-headliner EIPs  
  * Non-headliner scoping: [categorized shortlist](https://notes.ethereum.org/@ansgar/glamsterdam-el-pfi-eips) (from last ACDE)  
  * [Considered for Inclusion](https://forkcast.org/upgrade/glamsterdam/#considered-for-inclusion):  
    * [EIP7954](https://forkcast.org/eips/7954/) increase maximum contract size (32KiB)  
  * Still to be decided at next ACDT:  
    * [EIP8037](https://forkcast.org/eips/8037/) state creation gas cost increase:   
      * Marius van der Wijden: [EIP8037 presentation](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zRVR-tziS0Z0IACiDlcOPOUmkPdaBvjE-b10yH35iOY/edit)  
  * Declined for Inclusion:  
    * [EIP7793](https://forkcast.org/eips/7793/) conditional transactions, [EIP5920](https://forkcast.org/eips/5920/) PAY opcode, [EIP8051](https://forkcast.org/eips/8051/) precompile for ML-DSA signature verification, [EIP7971](https://forkcast.org/eips/7971/) hard limits for transient storage, [EIP8032](https://forkcast.org/eips/8032/) size-based storage gas pricing, [EIP7907](https://forkcast.org/eips/7907/) meter contract code size & increase limit and [EIP7903](https://forkcast.org/eips/7903/) remove initcode size limit  
  * Remaining [Proposed for Inclusion](https://forkcast.org/upgrade/glamsterdam/#proposed-for-inclusion) EIPs don’t change the protocol

#### All core devs \- testing (ACDT) [\#65](https://forkcast.org/calls/acdt/065)

* BPO3 (blob parameter only upgrade):   
  * not urgent based on current usage, getBlobV3 \+ partial cell messages would need to be implemented by all consensus layer clients  
* Glamsterdam upgrade:  
  * [Bal-devnet-2](https://notes.ethereum.org/@ethpandaops/bal-devnet-2): targeting late January, will add non-headliners: [EIP8024](https://forkcast.org/eips/8024/) SWAPN, DUPN & EXCHANGE, [EIP7708](https://forkcast.org/eips/7708/) ETH transfers emit a log, [EIP7778](https://forkcast.org/eips/7778/) block gas accounting without refunds and potentially [EIP7843](https://forkcast.org/eips/7843) SLOTNUM opcode (requires consensus layer change)  
  * Bal-devnet-3: plan to add four more non-headliner EIPs  
  * ePBS: spec discussions on new bid minimum increase (DoS mitigation), withdrawals & builder onboarding at fork

### Layer 1

* ethPandaOps:  
  * [2026 roadmap](https://ethpandaops.io/posts/ethpandaops-in-2026/): Glamsterdam & Hegotá upgrades, tooling, Xatu, the Lab, ZKVMs & hardening  
  * [Blob analysis](https://ethpandaops.io/posts/fusaka-more-blobs-less-votes/): timing games main driver of attestation degradation rather than blob counts  
  * The Lab [slot timelines](https://x.com/samcmAU/status/2012079872135585908): includes MEV bids, block arrival, execution times & data availability time  
* Consensus-specs [v1.7.0-alpha.1](https://github.com/ethereum/consensus-specs/releases/tag/v1.7.0-alpha.1): reverts withdrawals change  
* [Glamsterdam](https://forkcast.org/upgrade/glamsterdam) upgrade:  
  * EIP7928 Block-level Access Lists breakout [\#10](https://forkcast.org/calls/bal/010/)  
  * Forkcast dashboards: [client priority](https://forkcast.org/priority) (non-headliner EIP preferences), [test complexity](https://forkcast.org/complexity) (EF STEEL scores) & [devnet tracker](https://forkcast.org/devnets)  
* [Hegotá](https://forkcast.org/upgrade/hegota/) upgrade:  
  * EIP7805 FOCIL breakout [\#26](https://forkcast.org/calls/focil/026)  
* [75M gas limit benchmarking](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/137wrHKGXG4Hb4a3G1zICGl1U34AiNT3W9iEimrzxpXQ/edit?gid=301537091#gid=301537091): opcode performance by client  
* [zkEVM security overview](https://zkevm.ethereum.foundation/blog/zkevm-security-overview): level of concern & mitigations for 18 potential issues  
* Ethereum improvement proposals (EIPs):  
  * [EIP8123](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-8123): JSON-RPC method for transaction gas limit cap  
  * [EIP8125](https://github.com/ethereum/EIPs/pull/11081/files): Temporary contract storage

### Research

* Vitalik:   
  * [Recursive STARK based transaction pool](https://ethresear.ch/t/recursive-stark-based-bandwidth-efficient-mempool/23838)  
  * [Combining preconfirmations with based rollups](https://ethresear.ch/t/combining-preconfirmations-with-based-rollups-for-synchronous-composability/23863) for synchronous composability

### Staking

* ethStaker [staker console](https://paragraph.com/@ethstaker/introducing-the-staker-console): deposit, top up, upgrade to 0x02, consolidate, withdraw, exit & batch actions; Hoodi testnet only, mainnet pending audit  
* Lodestar (consensus layer client): [multi-layered defense strategy](https://blog.chainsafe.io/defending-lodestar) against npm supply chain attacks  
* Toni Wahrstätter: [MEV builder bids](https://bids.pics/) adds proposer to live view of auction  
* [Client diversity](https://clientdiversity.org/#distribution):  
  * Consensus layer: Lighthouse \~38% (data may not be accurate)  
  * Execution layer: Geth \~41%, Nethermind \~38% (estimated from self reports)  
* [Staking marketshare](https://dune.com/hildobby/eth2-staking): Lido 24% \[Note: [dual governance](https://dg.lido.fi/)\]  
* [Validators](https://pectrified.com/mainnet): 976k active  
* Client releases:  
  * Execution layer:  
    * Erigon [v3.3.3](https://github.com/erigontech/erigon/releases/tag/v3.3.3) (recommended): Discovery v5 enabled by default, fixes for committee counts, syncing, Shutter, half block execution stability & p2p vulnerability   
    * Geth [v1.16.8](https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/releases/tag/v1.16.8) (security fix): resolves two p2p vulnerabilities that can impact liveness reported via Ethereum Foundation bug bounty program  
    * Nethermind [1.36.0](https://github.com/NethermindEth/nethermind/releases/tag/1.36.0): operator ergonomics & RPC/execution correctness hardening improvements, estimateGas aligned with Geth behavior, .NET 10 migration and obsolete config & analytics removed  
    * Reth [v1.10.0](https://github.com/paradigmxyz/reth/releases/tag/v1.10.0) (medium): performance improvements, new RPC endpoints (including getBlobsV3), CLI enhancements & extended OP Stack flashblock support

### Layer 2

* Taiko (rollup) [proof dashboard](https://proofs.taiko.xyz/): ZK coverage & proof time across batches and proof latency

### Regulation

* US crypto market structure legislation (Clarity act):  
  * Senate banking committee: [draft](https://www.banking.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/market_structure_draft.pdf), markup [postponed](https://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/majority/scott-statement-on-market-structure-markup)  
    * [Coinbase withdrew support](https://x.com/brian_armstrong/status/2011545247105355865) due to tokenized equities defacto ban, DeFi prohibitions, CFTC authority eroded & restricting stablecoin rewards (allowing banks to ban their competition)  
  * Senate agriculture committee: [schedule](https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/newsroom/rep/press/release/chairman-boozman-announces-timeline-for-crypto-market-structure-legislation), release January 21 & markup January 27

### General

* X [revoked API access for InfoFi](https://x.com/nikitabier/status/2011825522817270230)  
* Banteg [takopi](https://banteg.xyz/posts/takopi/) (Telegram bridge): message coding agents from anywhere 

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*Editor: [@abcoathup](https://x.com/abcoathup)*  
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