Zcash developers are preparing to roll out the network's NU7 upgrade on mainnet in November, a change that will slash block times to 25 seconds while keeping the privacy coin's existing halving schedule intact.
What NU7 Brings to Zcash
The headline feature of NU7 is a dramatic reduction in block times, bringing them down to 25 seconds. Faster blocks generally translate into quicker transaction confirmations and a smoother experience for users moving funds across the network.
Crucially, the upgrade is designed to preserve Zcash's established monetary policy. The halving schedule — the mechanism that periodically cuts the rate of new coin issuance — will remain unchanged despite the faster block cadence, ensuring the coin's supply dynamics stay consistent with what holders expect.
Faster blocks, same schedule: NU7 aims to speed up Zcash without touching its monetary backbone.
Timeline and Testing
Before the network-wide activation, developers plan to switch on NU7 on the testnet on October 6. The testnet phase gives node operators, wallet providers, and other participants a window to validate the changes and iron out any issues ahead of the live deployment.
If testing goes smoothly, the mainnet activation is targeted for November, marking the next major protocol milestone for the privacy-focused blockchain.
- Block times drop to 25 seconds
- Halving schedule left unchanged
- Testnet activation set for October 6
- Mainnet upgrade targeted for November
The upgrade continues Zcash's practice of shipping periodic network upgrades to refine performance while maintaining its core focus on transactional privacy. Community members and infrastructure providers will be watching the testnet phase closely to confirm the network is ready for the November go-live.