Ethereum Protocol Studies 2026 | Ethereum Foundation Blog

tl;dr: Ethereum Protocol Studies returns for 2026 with new content tracks in cryptography, lean consensus and zkEVM, plus a new self-paced learning platform. The program kicks off February 23rd. Visit epf.wiki to get started.

Ethereum Protocol Studies (EPS) is back. Since launching as a 10-week study group ahead of EPF5, EPS has grown into the primary educational on-ramp for anyone looking to understand Ethereum’s core protocol. Hundreds of participants have used the program to go from general Ethereum familiarity to reading specs, navigating client codebases, and contributing to protocol development.

This year’s program expands in both depth and format. EPS 2026 introduces two new content tracks covering areas of the protocol that are increasingly central to Ethereum’s roadmap, alongside a self-paced learning platform that makes the curriculum accessible year-round.

What’s New in 2026

Cryptography

This track will focus on the mathematics and cryptography fundamental to Ethereum. With basic math training, you will learn concepts like elliptic curve pairings, KZG commitments, hash functions, and the constructions shaping its future, including zero-knowledge proof systems and post-quantum signature schemes.

Lean Consensus and zkEVM

With the recent progress on zkEVMs, this track covers the future of ethereum consensus. Participants will explore how zkEVM implementations prove execution correctness and how these efforts connect to the broader goal of scaling and SNARKifying the Ethereum protocol.

A New Learning Platform

Previous iterations of EPS relied on live sessions, Discord discussions, and the EPF Wiki as the primary learning surfaces. These remain core to the program. But starting this year, EPS is also available through a dedicated FOSS learning management system built on Moodle.

The platform hosts the previous EPS curriculum as a structured, self-paced course. Each module pairs video content from study group sessions with interactive assessments in the form of comprehension checks embedded directly in lecture recordings. Participants can work through the content at their own pace, with progress tracking and clear learning objectives for each section.

The learning platform complements the live program rather than replacing it. Cohort participants still benefit from seminar-style discussions with protocol engineers, real-time Q&A, and collaborative work through the EPF Wiki and Discord. The platform helps track your progress, test your knowledge and ensures that the barrier to entry is as low as possible.

What to expect in 2026

Participants in EPS 2026 can expect:

• Intro session on Monday, February 23rd
• Two onboarding weeks featuring foundational content through the new study platform.
• Five weeks of new content starting March 9th; two sessions per week covering cryptography and lean consensus/zkEVM.
• Live seminar-style discussions with core developers, researchers, and past EPF fellows
• A dedicated Discord server for protocol discussions
• Opportunities to contribute to collaborative documentation via epf.wiki

The EPF Wiki: A Living Knowledge Base

epf.wiki continues to serve as a comprehensive, community-maintained knowledge base for the Ethereum protocol. It covers execution and consensus layer specifications, client architecture, testing infrastructure, and active research areas. Contributions from EPS participants have been essential to keeping it current and comprehensive, and we encourage everyone to help expand and refine its content.

Get Involved

The study group is for anyone interested in understanding how Ethereum works at the protocol level. Whether you’re a developer exploring core contributions, a researcher following the roadmap, or simply curious about the system’s internals, the program provides a structured path from foundational concepts to the cutting edge.

Get started by exploring epf.wiki and joining the Discord.