Ethereum's 2026 upgrade "Hegota" is coming: Verkle trees and comprehensive state management upgrade

【Crypto World】The Ethereum development team has identified the next phase of network technology priorities. According to sources, this major upgrade is named “Hegota” and is expected to be launched after the Glamsterdam update, which is scheduled before the end of 2026.

What are the key highlights of this upgrade? In simple terms, it focuses on the optimization and integration of the execution layer and consensus layer. Specifically, the team will prioritize developing state management solutions, optimizing execution layer performance, and integrating the highly anticipated Verkle tree technology. The addition of Verkle trees is significant—it can greatly reduce the data storage pressure on nodes, lower the barrier to running full nodes, and ultimately enhance the network’s scalability and decentralization.

In terms of upgrade cadence, Ethereum maintains a schedule of two major upgrades per year, reflecting the developer community’s commitment to long-term infrastructure refinement. Each upgrade continues to pave the way for improved network reliability and efficiency. This major move in 2026 may become another critical milestone in Ethereum’s core layer optimization.