Zcash developers target Nov. 5 for NU7 mainnet upgrade cutting block times to 25 seconds
Zcash developers are targeting Nov. 5 for the NU7 mainnet upgrade, which would cut block times from 75 to 25 seconds while preserving the halving schedule.
Why it matters
The upgrade would change Zcash's block cadence and fee mechanics while explicitly preserving its issuance and halving schedule, a technical change developers say should not significantly affect wallets though full nodes, indexers and block explorers may need adjustments.
Key facts
Zcash developers are targeting Nov. 5 for NU7 mainnet activation.
Reported by Cointelegraph
NU7 would cut Zcash's block spacing from 75 seconds to 25 seconds.
25Reported by Cointelegraph
Testnet activation for NU7 is planned for Oct. 6.
Reported by Cointelegraph
A final decision on mainnet activation is scheduled for Oct. 20 after assessing testnet performance.
Reported by Cointelegraph
98.9% of coinholders voted to keep Zcash's existing halving schedule.
98.9 %Reported by Cointelegraph
Version 4 transactions would be disabled at NU7 activation, preventing further spending from legacy Sprout funds.
Reported by Crypto.News
The Network Sustainability Mechanism would begin returning withheld transaction fees as mining rewards in February 2031.
Reported by Cointelegraph
About 2.4 million ZEC, equal to 66% of the eligible pool, participated in the coinholder vote.
2,400,000 ZECReported by CoinDesk
What happened
Zcash developers are targeting Nov. 5 for the NU7 mainnet upgrade after the Zcash Foundation, Project Tachyon, Valar, ZODL, Shielded Labs and related engineering teams reached 'unanimous agreement' on its scope, according to developer Sean Bowe, reported by Cointelegraph, Crypto.News and CoinDesk. NU7 would cut block spacing from 75 seconds to 25 seconds, disable version 4 transactions, and introduce a Network Sustainability Mechanism that temporarily withholds a share of transaction fees before returning them as mining rewards starting February 2031, preserving Zcash's halving schedule. Testnet activation is planned for Oct. 6, with a final mainnet decision and activation height set for Oct. 20 after reviewing testnet performance. Coinholders backed keeping the existing halving schedule with 98.9% support; CoinDesk reported 96.6% support for the February 2031 reissuance date, while Crypto.News separately cited 96.6% support on the same NSM starting date and Cointelegraph reported 99.9% support for the faster-block proposal specifically. CoinDesk reported about 2.4 million ZEC, or 66% of the eligible pool, participated in the vote. Sources differ slightly on the withheld fee share, with CoinDesk citing 'at least 60%' of transaction fees set aside for future mining rewards.
How the story developed
- First report
First report by Cointelegraph
Zcash targets November for NU7 mainnet upgrade with 25-second blocks
- Official statement
Sean Bowe announces NU7 unanimous agreement and timeline
In a Sept. 17 community update, Bowe said core teams reached unanimous agreement on NU7's scope and schedule.
- Update
NU7 testnet activation planned
Testnet activation for NU7 is scheduled for Oct. 6.
- Official statement
Coinholders vote on halving preservation and block-speed proposals
Coinholders backed keeping the halving schedule (98.9%) and other NU7 parameters in a community poll.
- Update
Final mainnet activation decision due
Developers plan to make the final call on mainnet activation and height on Oct. 20 after testnet review.
- Independent corroboration
Independently corroborated by Crypto.News
Zcash targets Nov. 5 for NU7 mainnet upgrade
How coverage built up
Independent sources over time, counted the way the consensus panel counts them: a republication of a wire story does not move the line.
- 18 Sept 2026, 04:51 UTC: Cointelegraph — 1 independent source, 1 reports
- 18 Sept 2026, 05:13 UTC: Crypto.News — 2 independent sources, 2 reports
- 18 Sept 2026, 12:50 UTC: CoinDesk — 3 independent sources, 3 reports
Affected entities
Original sources
| Publisher | Report | Role | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cointelegraph Crypto media | Zcash targets November for NU7 mainnet upgrade with 25-second blocks | Original | |
| CoinDesk Crypto media | Zcash targets November upgrade to make private payments up to three times faster | Independent | |
| Crypto.News Crypto media | Zcash targets Nov. 5 for NU7 mainnet upgrade | Independent |
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