Zcash developers are targeting Nov. 5 for the NU7 mainnet upgrade after organizations and engineering teams reached agreement on its scope and timeline. The update is planned to hit the testnet on October 6, allowing developers enough time to assess the performance of the network before moving on to the mainnet decision in October.
The proposed update would lower the target block spacing of Zcash from 75 seconds to 25 seconds, remove version 4 transactions, and implement the Network Sustainability Mechanism (NSM). The chosen configuration would keep the halving schedule of Zcash in place but reintroduce supply that has been cut off since 2031.
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Zcash Developer Details NU7 Infrastructure Changes
Zcash developer Sean Bowe said the ecosystem organizations and engineering teams reached unanimous agreement on the planned scope and timetable. The current schedule sets Sept. 30 as the code-completion date, followed by testnet activation on Oct. 6. Developers will then assess testnet behavior before deciding the final mainnet activation details.
The upgrade is expected to require limited changes for wallet users because it does not introduce new transaction formats. However, infrastructure providers could face additional work. In case the results of the review confirm the current schedule, NU7 will be activated on mainnet on November 5.
Zcash Moves Toward 25-Second Blocks
The biggest technical change is the reduction in target block spacing from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. Zcash will be mining blocks three times as fast as the current schedule. The goal of the change is to shorten the waiting time for the next block while maintaining the same issuance structure of the network.
Faster blocks could affect several parts of the Zcash ecosystem. Users may see shorter waits for block confirmations, while exchanges and applications that depend on confirmations could adjust their processes. In terms of infrastructure, nodes and indexers will have to operate faster blocks, the testnet will be essential for this upcoming mainnet update.
Support from the community has been crucial during the development of the update. In particular, coinholder voting revealed high preference towards the 25-second blocks and halving schedule preservation. Over 2.4 million ZEC was used for voting, which amounts to about 66% of all available ZEC in the snapshot.
Zcash Developer Confirms Community-Backed NU7 Changes
The outcome of the governance process will determine how the NSM will be organized in NU7. Most of the coinholders have supported the continuation of the existing model of halving rather than adopting the smoother model of issuance. The selected model will make sure that there is a connection between block issuance and halving and that NSM operates in parallel.
In addition, the coinholders supported the use of February 2031 as the period for reintroducing the ZEC withdrawn by the NSM. More than 2.3 million ZEC were held by the coinholders supporting February 2031 as the starting point for ZEC reintroduction. The organizations of Zcash supported 2031 as the most conservative option in relation to the results of the community.
Also, NU7 will incorporate the disabling of the version 4 transaction. This will include the old version of the Sprout transaction system and will show that Zcash is shifting towards the new shielded transactions system. It is among the recent decisions made in the governance process, requiring the coinholders to provide some answers to the questions on NU7.
ZEC Gains Momentum Ahead of Upgrade
It follows a move seen on ZEC, which Crypto Vince pointed out: ZEC crossed above the $1,420 level, with $5.11 million in ZEC short liquidations seen in the past 24 hours. Those numbers give you market context for the upgrade without establishing any relationship with the NU7 update.
In addition to that, the post pointed out that the cumulative assets under management reached $700 million in a Grayscale ZEC spot ETF. It also gave a probability of 53% for ZEC crossing above $2,000 before the end of 2026.
For Zcash users and infrastructure operators, the next key date is Oct. 6, when NU7 is scheduled for testnet activation. The Oct. 20 review will then determine the mainnet activation details. Unless developers change the schedule after testing, Nov. 5 remains the planned mainnet date for the 25-second-block upgrade.
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