EF Protocol Cluster Unveils Unified Hegoté Tier List for Ethereum Improvement Proposals

The Ethereum Foundation (EF) Protocol cluster has officially released its comprehensive tier list for the upcoming Hegoté upgrade, marking a significant shift in how Ethereum’s core development roadmap is communicated to the public. For the first time, the cluster—comprising approximately 60 researchers and engineers across nine specialized teams—has synthesized their internal evaluations into a single, unified document. This departure from previous years, where individual teams often released fragmented or disparate opinions, aims to provide greater transparency and clarity regarding the technical priorities for Ethereum’s next major milestone.

The evaluation process covered 62 individual Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs), categorizing them into tiers based on their readiness, necessity, and alignment with the current long-term strategic vision. While Geth, the prominent Execution Layer (EL) client, will continue to maintain its own independent assessment, the collective output represents a "steelman" argument—a consensus-driven view that balances the technical requirements of the Consensus Layer (CL) and the Execution Layer (EL).

A New Era of Collaborative Governance

The transition toward a unified protocol tier list is a direct response to the lessons learned during the development of the "Glamsterdam" upgrade. Retrospectives from that period highlighted several systemic challenges, most notably the tendency for EIP champions to underestimate the complexity of integration and the scarcity of testing resources. By consolidating 397 individual grades across 62 proposals, the Protocol cluster has attempted to mitigate these risks by imposing a rigorous, standardized scoring methodology.

Each contributor evaluated proposals independently on a scale of 0 to 4 (S, A, B, C, D/DFI). The final tiers were not merely mathematical averages but the result of intense deliberation during a 90-minute working session. This collaborative approach ensured that proposals were not only graded on technical merit but also on their downstream impact on the broader ecosystem. The process was supported by the recent publication of the EF Protocol’s current and emerging priorities, which serves as the "north star" for the cluster’s decision-making.

Key Highlights: The Headliners

The tier list identifies two specific "headliner" EIPs that have been designated as "must-ship" for the Hegoté upgrade: EIP-7805 and EIP-8141.

EIP-7805, known as FOCIL (Fork Choice Inclusion List), is the cornerstone of the Consensus Layer. It provides a mechanism for any user to ensure their transaction is included in a block without relying on centralized builders, effectively decentralizing the block construction process. The cluster reached a unanimous decision on its inclusion, noting that it should be paired with EIP-8369, which defines the eligibility criteria for transactions and extends these inclusion guarantees to "Frames."

On the Execution Layer, EIP-8141, or "Frame Transactions," stands as the primary headliner. This proposal introduces native account abstraction, providing a path toward post-quantum (PQ) signature schemes and allowing for signature aggregation. By retiring legacy k1 keys and enabling more flexible authentication, Frame Transactions are viewed as a critical step in modernizing the EVM. This proposal is scheduled to ship alongside EIP-8250 and EIP-8272, forming a cohesive package for account security and flexibility.

The Scoring Ladder and Delivery Expectations

The EF Protocol cluster has structured its scoring to communicate clear delivery expectations for the community. An "S" or "A" tier designation indicates a high probability of inclusion in the Hegoté upgrade, provided technical specifications remain stable. "B" tier proposals are currently on the "bubble," meaning they require specific milestones—such as a functional prototype or a deeper assessment of ecosystem impact—to be considered for the final release.

Proposals falling into the "C" or "DFI" (Declined/Deferred) categories are generally those that lack sufficient urgency, conflict with the broader architectural vision, or present an unmanageable testing surface. Notably, many proposals related to rewards, penalties, and issuance policy were deferred, with the cluster emphasizing that such major economic shifts belong to a broader ecosystem-wide governance process rather than a standard technical fork.

Chronology and Process Refinement

The development cycle for the Hegoté upgrade has been defined by a series of deliberate steps. Following the conclusion of the Glamsterdam upgrade, the Protocol cluster initiated a series of group calls to address the lessons learned. The August 28 process post acted as a catalyst, setting the stage for the formal contribution templates that were submitted by all nine teams and several domain experts.

By late August and early September 2026, the team shifted from individual evaluations to the "steelman" sessions. This phase allowed for the re-evaluation of contested items, leading to adjustments in both directions. The resulting list is a living document, as evidenced by the September 8 update to the notes for EIP-7716, which added clarification regarding the need for further research into the impact of anti-correlation attestation penalties on the staker landscape.

Broader Implications for the Ethereum Roadmap

The decision to exclude or defer certain EIPs, such as those related to complex state-root changes or specific privacy mechanisms, reflects a conservative approach to protocol development. The cluster is prioritizing "light" Consensus Layer scope to minimize risks, ensuring that the network remains stable while introducing transformative changes like account abstraction and FOCIL.

The implications for developers and stakers are twofold. First, the standardization of the tier list provides a clear signal of what will be supported, allowing infrastructure providers to align their roadmaps with the Ethereum Foundation’s trajectory. Second, the explicit refusal of certain "convenience" features for large-scale operators underscores the foundation’s commitment to maintaining a permissionless and decentralized network.

Official Responses and Public Engagement

Recognizing that a tier list of this magnitude will inevitably draw scrutiny from the developer community and EIP champions, the EF Protocol cluster has invited open debate. An upcoming Reddit AMA on r/ethereum, scheduled for September 16, 2026, will serve as the primary forum for addressing concerns. The foundation has explicitly encouraged authors of declined or lower-tier proposals to participate, emphasizing that the "steelman" process is not infallible and that community feedback is vital.

The transparency displayed in this process serves to demystify the complex, often opaque world of Ethereum protocol upgrades. By publishing the rationale behind each grade—whether it is a requirement for further testing or a fundamental disagreement on the direction of a proposal—the EF is shifting from a top-down decision-making model to one of documented, consensus-based governance.

Statistical Overview of the Evaluation

The breadth of the Hegoté evaluation is underscored by the sheer volume of data involved. Out of the 62 proposals:

• 2 are categorized as "must-ship."
• 15 are expected to ship (A-tier).
• 8 are in the "B-tier" bubble, pending specific requirements.
• 7 are in the "C-tier," currently below the line.
• 28 proposals have been declined, with detailed justifications provided for each.
• 2 remain "TBD," waiting on empirical data from the post-Glamsterdam mainnet environment.

This distribution demonstrates a disciplined approach to feature creep. By successfully filtering out nearly 45% of the proposed improvements, the cluster is effectively managing the technical debt that often accumulates during rapid protocol iterations.

Looking Toward the Future

As the Ethereum community looks toward the implementation phase of Hegoté, the focus will now shift to the execution of the "must-ship" and "A-tier" proposals. The reliance on the Forkcast platform for visualizing these tiers further underscores the shift toward data-driven, accessible protocol governance.

The success of the Hegoté upgrade will ultimately be measured not just by the features delivered, but by the stability of the network post-deployment. By front-loading the evaluation process and being transparent about the requirements for inclusion, the EF Protocol cluster is attempting to create a more predictable and sustainable development cadence. Whether this unified approach will satisfy all stakeholders remains to be seen, but it represents a significant maturation of the Ethereum development process, moving the network closer to its goal of a scalable, secure, and truly decentralized future.

For those tracking the evolution of the protocol, the companion post on "Current and Emerging Priorities" remains essential reading. It provides the necessary context for why certain paths were chosen over others, grounding the technical decisions in the broader, long-term vision of the Ethereum project. As the September 16 AMA approaches, the community has a clear roadmap of the debate ahead, ensuring that the final configuration of the Hegoté upgrade will be the result of a fully informed and representative consensus.