Ethereum Tests a Partitioned Binary Tree on Glamsterdam’s Mainnet Shadow Fork

Ethereum is testing a proposed move to a Partitioned Binary Tree (PBT) on the glamsterdam-pbt-1 mainnet shadow fork, a step aimed at making state proofs smaller and state management more efficient.

Consensys announced the test on the fork. The proposed migration would replace the Merkle Patricia Trie. A Besu maintainer tested the transition, which also aims to help nodes operate without missing slots.

The test follows Glamsterdam’s Oct. 6 fork on Sepolia. Ethereum’s mainnet deployment remains targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026, with no specific activation date set.