Zcash activates NU7 upgrade on testnet ahead of November mainnet target
Zcash has activated its NU7 upgrade on the public testnet, initiating live tests of 25-second block times ahead of a planned mainnet rollout in November.
Zcash activated its NU7 network upgrade on the public testnet at block height 4,465,026, launching a trial run ahead of an anticipated mainnet debut targeted for Nov. 5. The testnet activation arrived ahead of schedule after previously being expected around Oct. 6, according to reports from The Block and CoinDesk.[1][2][5][7][8]
The protocol upgrade cuts the target block time from 75 seconds to 25 seconds, aiming to accelerate exchange deposits, cross-chain bridge transfers, and point-of-sale transactions. According to the Zcash Foundation, overall issuance remains unchanged because each block's scheduled reward is divided by three and halving intervals are lengthened. NU7 also introduces new fee rules, diverting 60% of transaction fees into a Network Sustainability Mechanism reserve while allocating 40% to miners.[3][6][7][8]
In addition, the upgrade turns off version 4 transactions, suspending the original Sprout shielded pool. NU7 also establishes caps on shielded transaction activity, which the foundation reported will more than double Orchard throughput and reduce maximum spam-induced light-wallet syncing delays by roughly 37%. Developers plan to review testnet stability and determine the final mainnet activation block height on Oct. 20.[4][7][8]
Key facts
- Zcash activated its NU7 upgrade on the public testnet at block height 4,465,026.
- NU7 cuts Zcash's target block time from 75 seconds to 25 seconds while keeping daily issuance constant by dividing block rewards by three.
- The upgrade directs 60% of transaction fees into a Network Sustainability Mechanism reserve, leaving 40% for miners.
- Version 4 transactions are disabled under NU7, suspending Zcash's original Sprout shielded pool.
- Shielded activity caps in NU7 more than double Orchard throughput and decrease maximum spam sync delays for light wallets by about 37%.
- Developers are targeting Nov. 5 for mainnet launch and plan to make the final activation decision on Oct. 20.
Sources · 8 sources
- CO
Cointelegraph@CointelegraphPost on X ·
🔥 UPDATE: Zcash activates its NU7 network upgrade on testnet at block height 4,465,026. https://t.co/8c4Pk5sJAO
Open source - TB
The Block@TheBlockCoPost on X ·
THE BLOCK: Zcash's NU7 upgrade activated on public testnet earlier than expected, cutting its target block time from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. NU7 went live on testnet at block 4,465,026, previously expected around Oct. 6. zcash:native https://t.co/lC03uv0jhb
Open source - LS
Laura Shin@laurashinPost on X ·
Faster blocks, same supply: Zcash's NU7 divides each block reward by three and lengthens the halving intervals to match, so daily ZEC issuance doesn't change. The upgrade is live on testnet now. https://t.co/pMf5t3xw2X
Open source - CB
Crypto Banter@crypto_banterPost on X ·
🚨ZCASH IS ABOUT TO GET MUCH FASTER! @Zcash says NU7 just activated on testnet. Mainnet is targeted for November 5, with the final call set for October 20 after teams watch how testnet holds up. The upgrade cuts block time from 75 seconds to 25. Shielded sends would confirm about three times faster once it hits mainnet.
Open source - CO
CoinDesk@CoinDeskPost on X ·
NEW: @Zcash's NU7 testnet activates two days ahead of schedule, cutting block times from 75 to 25 seconds with mainnet activation targeting November 5. https://t.co/Fjseh1tjMU
Open source - CO
CoindeskArticle ·
Zcash’s 25-second blocks go live on public testnet ahead of schedule NU7 cuts the target block time from 75 seconds to 25, giving exchanges, wallets and developers a live rehearsal before a planned November mainnet launch.
Open source - BS
BSCN@BSCNewsPost on X ·
Zcash Puts Faster Blocks And New Fee Rules to the Test Zcash (@zcash) has activated NU7 on testnet, putting its next major protocol upgrade through live testing. The upgrade aims to cut target block spacing from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. It also disables version 4 transactions under the new protocol rules. The testnet phase will help developers identify issues before mainnet activation. Zcash is targeting Nov. 5 for the mainnet rollout.
Open source - UN
UnchainedArticle ·
Zcash Activates NU7 on Public Testnet, Opening a Trial Run for 25-Second Blocks Zcash’s NU7 network upgrade is now running on the project’s public testnet, putting 25-second blocks into production on a test chain about a month before the change is due on mainnet. The upgrade activated at block 4,465,026 on Oct. 4, according to a live NU7 dashboard run by the team behind Zakura, one of the two node programs that implement Zcash. The Zcash Foundation, which maintains the other, Zebra, had said in its release notes for the first NU7 release candidate that activation was expected around Oct. 6. Activation is tied to a block height rather than a calendar date. As of early Monday UTC, the dashboard showed a median gap of 19.5 seconds across the latest 300 blocks. It lists a 17.3-second median as the expected figure when blocks average 25 seconds. Get Unchained’s crypto news in your inbox with the free Unchained Daily newsletter . Faster Payments, Same Issuance NU7 cuts Zcash’s target time between blocks to 25 seconds from 75. “Today a Zcash user waits 75 seconds on average for a first confirmation. That is a real obstacle at a point of sale, for exchange deposits, and for cross chain bridges,” the foundation wrote. Producing blocks three times as often does not mean three times the new supply. Each block’s scheduled reward is divided by three and the remaining halving intervals are lengthened to match, so the daily amount of new ZEC stays the same, the foundation said. The upgrade also sends 60% of every block’s transaction fees into a reserve for the Network Sustainability Mechanism, leaving miners with 40%. Coinholders voted in September to start paying that reserve back out through block rewards in February 2031. NU7 also caps shielded activity in each block. Under those caps, Orchard’s throughput rises to more than twice its current level, and the most a spammer can slow down light-wallet syncing shrinks by roughly 37%, according to the foundation . Mainnet Decision on Oct. 20 Valar Group and Project Tachyon, which build Zakura, set the testnet activation in version 1.6.0, released Oct. 1. The foundation released its Zebra candidate the next day. Developers will decide on mainnet activation, and set its block height, on Oct. 20 based on how NU7 performs on testnet, according to a schedule posted by Zcash cofounder Sean Bowe , who co-maintains Zakura. Nov. 5 is the planned mainnet date. “The changes in this upgrade should not affect wallets in any significant way,” Bowe wrote in the forum post. “Infrastructure such as full nodes, indexers and block explorers may be affected.” NU7 also turns off v4 transactions, suspending Sprout , Zcash’s original shielded pool. A forum participant replying in the same thread said funds left in Sprout after the upgrade would effectively be stuck. Related Listen: How Zcash and NEAR Are Driving This Crypto Bull Run The post Zcash Activates NU7 on Public Testnet, Opening a Trial Run for 25-Second Blocks appeared first on Unchained .
Open source