Morning Minute: Ethereum's Next Upgrade Features Censorship Resistance
Ethereum developers have confirmed the inclusion of FOCIL (Fork-Choice-Enforced Inclusion Lists, EIP-7805) for the Hegota network upgrade, expected in the second half of 2026. This upgrade, supported by Vitalik Buterin, introduces a mechanism where 17 randomly chosen validators per block propose inclusion lists of valid seen transactions, which block producers must include to avoid block rejection. The design prevents any single validator from controlling or censoring transactions. FOCIL will be integrated alongside EIP-8141, which expands Ethereum’s functionality with smart contract wallets, multisigs, quantum-resistant wallets, and privacy tools. Buterin described FOCIL as a return to Ethereum’s cypherpunk, censorship-resistant roots. The proposed system ensures that all valid transactions—regardless of government sanctions, regulatory pressure, or flagged addresses—are processed if they meet protocol rules, unlike traditional financial systems that can freeze or block accounts. While this increases censorship resistance and aligns with decentralization, it presents potential compliance challenges, as governments may object to uncontrollable transaction processing. This development is expected to be a focal point in future crypto policy discussions.
