Zcash NU7 Upgrade Targets 25 Second Blocks

Zcash developers are targeting a November 5 activation for the NU7 upgrade. The update will reduce block production time from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. This cut in duration makes private payments three times faster. The proposal also introduces a new fee mechanism for miners.

The upgrade plan received unanimous support from core builder teams. These groups include the Zcash Foundation and Project Tachyon. A community vote saw 2.4 million ZEC participate. This amount represents 66 percent of the eligible token pool.

Fee Redistribution Mechanics

NU7 will temporarily remove 60 percent of transaction fees from circulation. These funds will return to miners as rewards starting in February 2031. The mechanism aims to supplement income as regular issuance declines. It replaces the older model of immediate fee distribution.

The upgrade preserves the existing halving schedule. It achieves this by reducing rewards per block by three. The halving interval extends from 1.68 million to 5.04 million blocks. Total issuance over time remains largely unchanged.

Privacy and Transaction Speed

Faster block times allow exchanges to release funds in one-third the time. This makes direct private payments more practical at point of sale. Shielded payments hide sender, recipient, and amount from public records. This prevents searchable trails into user finances.

Implementation Timeline and Requirements

Code completion is due by September 30. The upgrade will reach the test network on October 6. A final mainnet decision is scheduled for October 20. Wallets should not require significant changes for this update.

Full nodes and indexers may need updates. The older transaction format will be disabled. No new transaction formats are being introduced. November 5 remains a target date rather than a confirmed launch.