Ethereum developer Barnabé Monnot has proposed to halve the network's block time ahead of the anticipated Glamsterdam fork in 2026, which may significantly change the blockchain's economy.
Proposal for Block Time Reduction
In the Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 7782 discussed on June 21, Monnot proposed to reduce block times from 12 seconds to 6 seconds by adjusting the timing of various blockchain operations.
Impact on Ethereum's Economic Value
Monnot noted that reducing the time it takes for a new block to be added to the network will raise Ethereum's 'service price', which refers to the economic value that the blockchain can capture for providing its service as a settlement layer. The proposal states that shorter block times provide 'better user experience, faster Layer 2 interaction, tighter DEX pricing, reduced MEV, and quicker finality'.
> 'Ethereum will always seek to provide the best service at the cheapest sustainable price'. > 'Shorter slot times make the confirmation service better, and so have the potential to raise the service price beyond where it is today, absent any supply increase.' > — Barnabé Monnot, June 21, 2025.
Financial News on Ethereum ETFs
While developers debate the approval of EIP 7782, US spot Ethereum ETFs have surpassed $4 billion in cumulative inflows, according to data from Farside Investors. Yesterday, the funds resumed their positive inflow streak, with $100.7 million entering the ETF’s reserves. BlackRock's ETHA product led in cumulative inflows, with $25.8 million entering its reserves, while Fidelity’s FETH fund recorded the highest inflows of the day after investors poured $60.5 million into the fund. ETH's price benefited from the inflows, showing a 7% gain in the past 24 hours.
The proposal to reduce block time may significantly change user experience and the economic model of Ethereum. At the same time, the growing investment in Ethereum ETFs highlights investor interest in this cryptocurrency.
