- The NU7 network upgrade will reduce the block time from 75 seconds to 25 seconds.
- NU7 locks 60% of fees in reserve via the NSM, returning a portion through rewards in 2031.
- Live on public testnet, NU7 allows devs and node operators to test before mainnet launch.
Zcash (ZEC) developers are targeting November 5, 2026, for the NU7 network upgrade, which would reduce the blockchain’s target block time from 75 seconds to 25 seconds.
The goal is to speed up transaction confirmations and add a new mechanism to help keep the network secure over the long run.
As shown on GitHub, developers have settled on block number 3,543,405 as the target launch point for the update.
With blocks coming every 25 seconds instead of 75, Zcash could become more practical for payments and exchange deposits.
However, quicker blocks don’t mean Zcash will mint three times as many coins. The upgrade cuts the reward per block to a third of what it was, so the overall pace of new ZEC issuance stays the same over time. The four-year halving schedule and the 21 million ZEC supply cap are also unchanged.
Zcash Is Changing Its Transaction Fee System
NU7 will also pull 60% of transaction fees out of circulation and put them into a reserve under the Network Sustainability Mechanism. Miners get to keep the other 40%, and some of that reserve is set to flow back out through future block rewards starting around February 2031.
The idea is to keep mining worthwhile as block rewards shrink with each halving. Rather than raising ZEC’s supply cap, the mechanism redirects existing transaction fees and feeds part of the reserve back into future rewards.
The upgrade is already live on Zcash’s public testnet, so developers, wallet providers, and other infrastructure operators can try out the changes before they hit the mainnet.
Zcash Foundation’s October 2 announcement confirmed the testnet release and explained how the new block timing and fee mechanism work.
The mainnet launch isn’t a done deal just yet, as it still needs compatible node software and a finalized activation setup.
NU7 also turns off the old version 4 transactions tied to Zcash’s original Sprout privacy system, so any funds left in that pool when activation happens would no longer be spendable through the existing system.
That said, upon successful implementation, the NU7 upgrade will bring big changes to how Zcash handles daily transactions and how crypto miners earn rewards on the network.
Related: Zcash Price Prediction: Can ZEC Reach $1,400 as Winklevoss Sees $5,000?
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