Ethereum’s next upgrade breaks the '21,000 gas' rule wallets rely on
Reported by CoinDesk · AI-assisted summary by ChikoCorp AI News Desk
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Summary
Ethereum's upcoming major upgrade, Glamsterdam, will change the cost structure for basic ether (ETH) transfers by ending the fixed 21,000 gas unit rule. Sending ETH to an existing account will still cost 21,000 gas units, but transfers to addresses never before used on Ethereum will incur an additional 183,600 units of a new "state gas" category. Ethereum developers are alerting wallet providers and blockchain services to update any software that currently assumes a fixed gas cost for ETH transfers before the upgrade launches.
Why it matters
The development affects how wallets, blockchain trackers, and fee calculators handle ETH transfers since the previously fixed gas cost will no longer apply universally. Software that treats 21,000 gas units as both the minimum and maximum for ETH transfers risks rejecting valid transactions or underquoting fees. This change reflects the differing computational work involved in interacting with new versus existing accounts.
Key context
Currently, every ETH transfer costs 21,000 gas units regardless of whether the receiving account was previously used. The new rule recognizes that creating and storing a new account on the blockchain requires extra resources, justifying a higher gas fee for such transfers. The upgrade will first be tested on Ethereum’s Platåberget testnet on Thursday before progressing to Sepolia and Hoodi testnets ahead of the mainnet release. Developers emphasize that end users don’t need to take any immediate action.
Key numbers and entities
The fixed gas cost of 21,000 units for ETH transfers is being modified by an additional 183,600 units of "state gas" for first-time transfers. Ethereum Foundation developers, who support and maintain Ethereum, have issued the warning. The ETH price referenced at the time of reporting is $1,894.72. The testnets involved include Platåberget, Sepolia, and Hoodi.
What remains unclear
The source does not flag any open questions or limitations regarding the upgrade. It notes that developers have time to identify issues through testing phases before the mainnet rollout.