Current outcome
Zcash plans to activate NU7 on Nov. 5, cutting block times to 25 seconds while keeping daily issuance unchanged; the upgrade will also disable version 4 transactions, potentially making ZEC in the legacy Sprout shielded pool unspendable; testnet is scheduled for Oct. 6 and a mainnet activation decision is expected on Oct. 20.
Progress timeline
3 material updates- #01
Zcash targets November for NU7 mainnet upgrade with 25-second blocks
Zcash developers have reached unanimous agreement to target November 5 for the NU7 mainnet upgrade, which will cut block times to 25 seconds, disable version 4 transactions, and integrate the Network Sustainability Mechanism while preserving the halving schedule.
Source evidence: Cointelegraph
- #02
Zcash Is Running—Devs Want to Make It Faster
Developers revealed NU7 testnet on Oct. 6, mainnet activation height set on Oct. 20, specs due by Sept. 30; ZIP 218 divides per-block reward by ~3 to keep daily issuance unchanged; 98.9% of coinholders voted to keep halvings; Network Sustainability Mechanism will bank ~60% of transaction fees starting 2026, flowing back as supplemental mining rewards in Feb. 2031.
State after update: Zcash developers unanimously agreed to activate the NU7 mainnet upgrade on Nov. 5, cutting block times from 75 to 25 seconds while keeping daily issuance unchanged via ZIP 218, and integrating the Network Sustainability Mechanism (fee banking starting 2026, supplemental rewards in Feb. 2031), with halvings preserved.
Source evidence: Decrypt
- #03
Zcash’s November upgrade could freeze funds in legacy Sprout pool
NU7 will disable version 4 transactions under ZIP-2003, making ZEC in the legacy Sprout shielded pool unspendable after the upgrade; community members and Zcash co-founder Zooko Wilcox warned holders to move funds, though the proposal does not burn the funds and leaves open the possibility of restoring access later.
State after update: Zcash plans to activate NU7 on Nov. 5, cutting block times to 25 seconds while keeping daily issuance unchanged; the upgrade will also disable version 4 transactions, potentially making ZEC in the legacy Sprout shielded pool unspendable; testnet is scheduled for Oct. 6 and a mainnet activation decision is expected on Oct. 20.
Source evidence: Cointelegraph