# Ethereum Protocol Studies 2026

> The 2026 program introduces new tracks in cryptography and lean consensus/zkEVM and kicks off on February 23rd.

**Published by:** [ETH Daily](https://ethdaily.io/)
**Published on:** 2026-02-18
**Categories:** news, 2026, february2026
**URL:** https://ethdaily.io/885

## Content

Quick TakeEthereum Protocol Studies 2026.Rocket Pool activates Saturn 1.EF introduces new Platform Team.Geth critical security release.Ethereum Protocol Studies 2026Listen to this episode from Ethereum News on Spotify. The Ethereum Protocol Studies program returns. Rocket Pool activates the Saturn 1 upgrade. The EF introduces a new Platform Team. And Geth issues a critical security release. Read more: https://ethdaily.io/885 Earn 10% real yield on your dollars, fully onchain.https://spotify.comSponsored byEarn 10% real yield on your dollars, fully onchain. Hold $BOLD, the only decentralized stablecoin rated A- by stablecoin agency, Bluechip. No vaults, no middlemen, no RWAs. Learn more on liquity.org/earnEthereum Protocol Studies 2026The Ethereum Foundation announced the return of Ethereum Protocol Studies (EPS), a program designed to make Ethereum’s core protocol more accessible. The 2026 cohort begins Monday, February 23rd, and introduces new tracks in cryptography and lean consensus/zkEVM, along with a self-paced learning platform. The program guides developers, researchers, and curious users from general Ethereum familiarity to reading protocol specifications, understanding client architecture, and contributing to core development. Participants get to engage with core developers and researchers through live seminars and Discord discussions, gaining a deeper understanding of Ethereum’s inner workings.Rocket Pool Activates Saturn 1Rocket Pool, the decentralized Ethereum staking protocol, activated its Saturn One upgrade, introducing 4 ETH megapool validators. The upgrade cuts the node operator bond requirement in half compared to the 8 ETH minipools, significantly improving capital efficiency, scalability, and overall token economics. With megapools, operators can run twice as many validators using the same capital, earning up to 2.3x more commission per ETH bonded. Saturn One also introduces the Universal Adjustable Revenue Split (UARS) rewards model, allocating a 5% base commission to node operators, a 9% revenue share to RPL stakers, while rETH holders maintain the same effective commission as before. rETH remains overcollateralized.EF Introduces Platform TeamEthereum Foundation Product Lead Josh Rudolf introduced the Ethereum Foundation’s new Platform Team, focused on unifying the Ethereum L1 and L2 ecosystem. The team’s mission is to ensure Ethereum serves as the strongest possible platform for users, applications, and organizations. The Platform Team will work to bring greater cohesion to Ethereum’s growing network of differentiated L2s. It will lead product-driven R&D, integrate ecosystem needs into the Ethereum roadmap, align L1 and L2 strategy, track network health, and ensure protocol upgrades translate into real-world adoption. The initiative seeks to clarify the roles of L1 and L2 as Ethereum scales, strengthening L1 while enabling specialized L2s to extend its capabilities.Geth Client Security ReleaseGo Ethereum released v1.16.9, a high-severity security update addressing multiple critical vulnerabilities. All Geth node operators are strongly urged to upgrade as soon as possible. After updating, operators should rotate their p2p node key. The team also released v1.17.0, a feature update that includes the same security fixes and introduces support for lightweight partial archive setups.Other NewszkVM Standards v0Network Anonymized MempoolsHegota headliner temp check Moonwell Finance exploitFileverse API and Agent SkillOptimism Scaling SummitBUIDL is live on UniswapXStarkWare brings Nightfall to StarknetBlackRock acquiring ETHBase opens Batches 003Bridge wins OCC approval Zora pivots to SolanaDisclaimer: Content is for informational purposes only, not endorsement or investment advice. The accuracy of information is not guaranteed.

## Publication Information

- [ETH Daily](https://ethdaily.io/): Publication homepage
- [All Posts](https://ethdaily.io/): More posts from this publication
- [RSS Feed](https://api.paragraph.com/blogs/rss/@ethdaily): Subscribe to updates
- [Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/follow?screen_name=ethdaily): Follow on Twitter