EF Protocol Cluster Releases Unified Hegoté Tier List for Ethereum Improvement Proposals
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) Protocol cluster has officially unveiled its comprehensive tier list for the upcoming network upgrade, codenamed Hegoté. This year marks a significant departure from previous methodologies, as the cluster has moved away from disparate, team-specific evaluations in favor of a single, unified perspective. By synthesizing the input of approximately 60 researchers and engineers across nine distinct teams, the EF has established a rigorous framework for evaluating the 62 EIPs (Ethereum Improvement Proposals) currently under consideration for inclusion in the protocol.
This collaborative effort reflects a maturing governance process within the Ethereum ecosystem. Historically, individual teams such as Geth—the primary execution layer client—would maintain independent assessments of proposed changes. While Geth will continue to publish its own standalone view to ensure client-level technical integrity, the new unified list serves as a critical, high-level datapoint for the entire developer community. The resulting rankings are not merely preferences but are deeply rooted in the strategic priorities outlined in the EF’s companion document, "Current and Emerging Priorities."
The Genesis of the Evaluation Process
The evaluation of the 62 EIPs was a multi-month endeavor, officially beginning in late August 2026. The process was heavily informed by lessons learned during the preceding "Glamsterdam" upgrade. Retrospectives from that period highlighted several key operational hazards: the tendency for complexity to compound during implementation, the critical scarcity of testing surfaces, and the frequent underestimation of integration depth by proposal champions.
To mitigate these risks, the Protocol cluster utilized a standardized contribution template, resulting in 397 individual tier grades. Each proposal was scored on a scale of 0 to 4, where "S" represents a must-ship priority (4), "A" indicates high-priority inclusion (3), "B" reflects potential candidates requiring further work (2), and "C" or lower signifies proposals that are either deferred or declined (0–1).
The final list was not arrived at through simple arithmetic. Rather, it was the result of a "steelman" process, wherein the initial quantitative data served as a baseline for intense, EIP-by-EIP debate during a 90-minute working session. This deliberative approach allowed the cluster to refine its expectations, moving proposals up or down based on cross-team consensus regarding feasibility, necessity, and alignment with the broader protocol roadmap.
Core Protocol Priorities: Consensus and Execution
The Hegoté upgrade is characterized by a deliberate focus on structural resilience and long-term scalability. At the consensus layer, EIP-7805 (FOCIL) has emerged as the definitive "S-tier" headliner. FOCIL, or the Filtered Order-based Consensus-layer Inclusion List, is designed to provide users with a path to transaction inclusion that does not rely on centralized builders. Its unanimous support underscores the community’s commitment to mitigating censorship risks and ensuring validator autonomy.
Following closely in the A-tier is EIP-8369, which provides the necessary profile definitions for FOCIL, and EIP-8015, which aims to remove obsolete deposit and eth1data fields. These changes reflect a broader theme of technical debt reduction and protocol simplification.
On the execution layer, EIP-8141 (Frame Transactions) stands as the primary headliner. By introducing native account abstraction, Frame Transactions provide a secure path toward post-quantum (PQ) signature schemes. This shift is essential, as it allows for the eventual retirement of older, less secure cryptographic standards without necessitating a fork for every new scheme introduced. When paired with EIP-8250 (Keyed Nonces) and EIP-8272 (Recent Roots), Frame Transactions form a robust foundation for the next generation of smart-contract interaction.
Analyzing the "Bubble" and Declined Proposals
A significant portion of the evaluation process was dedicated to identifying proposals that, while innovative, were not ready for immediate integration. The B-tier contains eight proposals, such as EIP-8198 (Quick Slots) and EIP-8321 (Hash-Chain RANDAO). These proposals remain on the bubble, requiring specific, measurable requirements—such as full specification coverage, working prototypes, or an in-depth assessment of downstream ecosystem effects—before they can be elevated to A-tier status.
Conversely, 28 proposals were explicitly declined (DFI), including EIP-8142 (Block-in-Blobs) and EIP-7645 (Alias ORIGIN to SENDER). The rationale for these rejections was primarily grounded in the need to keep the scope of the Hegoté upgrade manageable. For instance, EIP-7716, which suggests anti-correlation attestation penalties, was identified as a meritorious idea that nonetheless lacks the priority necessary for this specific fork. The cluster emphasized that the effectiveness of the upgrade is defined as much by the proposals it chooses to exclude as by those it elects to implement.
Broader Implications for the Ethereum Ecosystem
The publication of this tier list provides the Ethereum developer community with a clear roadmap of the protocol’s current trajectory. By setting explicit delivery expectations, the EF Protocol cluster is fostering a more transparent governance environment.
The emphasis on "post-quantum" (PQ) readiness is perhaps the most notable strategic shift observed in this cycle. Proposals like EIP-8365 (BLS Withdrawal Credential Retirement) are specifically designed to address long-term cryptographic security. This proactive stance suggests that the Ethereum Foundation is prioritizing the transition to quantum-resistant standards even while balancing immediate scalability and usability improvements.
Furthermore, the integration of account abstraction through the "Frames" package represents a significant milestone in the user experience of the network. By moving away from legacy "k1" keys toward a more flexible and robust authentication framework, Ethereum is positioning itself to be more accessible to both developers and end-users.
Looking Ahead: Transparency and Engagement
The EF has expressed a clear desire to pressure-test its conclusions through community feedback. Recognizing that top-down decision-making can sometimes miss critical nuances, the Protocol cluster has scheduled a Reddit AMA on r/ethereum for September 16, 2026. This session is intended to provide a platform for proponents of B-tier, C-tier, and even rejected proposals to challenge the cluster’s assessments directly.
"Success here is determined as much by what we decline as by what we ship," the cluster noted in its closing summary. This philosophy encapsulates the current mindset of the Ethereum core developers: a rigorous, disciplined, and highly collaborative approach to protocol evolution.
As the Hegoté upgrade takes shape, the industry will be watching closely to see how these rankings translate into actual code and network stability. For now, the unified tier list stands as a comprehensive record of the current state of Ethereum research, serving as both a technical guide and a testament to the complex, ongoing process of decentralizing the world’s most significant programmable blockchain. Stakeholders are encouraged to review the companion documentation regarding the Protocol cluster’s "north star" to fully understand the strategic motivations driving these decisions.
In summary, the Hegoté upgrade process has demonstrated a transition toward greater administrative transparency. By providing a clear, evidence-based rationale for every inclusion and exclusion, the EF is not only streamlining the development lifecycle but also inviting the global Ethereum community into a deeper, more informed dialogue about the future of the protocol. Whether these decisions will yield the intended improvements in efficiency and security remains to be seen, but the structured nature of this evaluation cycle provides the most stable foundation yet for the next major leap in the Ethereum roadmap.
