Zcash NU7 Upgrade Targets November 5 Launch to Cut Block Times by Threefold
Zcash is moving closer to activating its NU7 network upgrade after developers agreed on a specific block height for the change, which aims to make transactions confirm faster on the privacy-focused blockchain.
A proposal submitted Tuesday sets the activation point at block 3,543,405. The target was agreed upon by editors responsible for reviewing and approving changes to Zcash's technical rules. The node software Zakura has also listed the block on its public upgrade dashboard, pointing to a potential mainnet launch around November 5.
NU7 will reduce the time between new blocks from 75 seconds to 25 seconds, cutting the interval by two-thirds. The change could make Zcash deposits available to users more quickly on cryptocurrency exchanges and other platforms.
For example, an exchange that requires three confirmations before crediting a ZEC deposit could reduce the waiting period from nearly four minutes to approximately 75 seconds. The upgrade has been running on Zcash's test network since early October, allowing developers to test the changes before mainnet activation.
NU7 introduces changes to fees and privacy
The upgrade will also change how Zcash handles transaction fees. Under the proposed rules, 60% of fees collected in each block will be removed from circulation and returned to miners beginning around February 2031. The plan preserves Zcash's existing schedule for cutting mining rewards in half.
NU7 will also permanently shut down Sprout, Zcash's original privacy system. Any coins remaining in Sprout when the upgrade activates will become unspendable, meaning holders must move their funds before the planned activation in early November.
The change makes the upgrade deadline important for anyone who still holds ZEC within the legacy system. Users will need to transfer those funds to a supported destination before the cutoff to retain access to them.
Mainnet activation still requires final approval
Although the proposed activation block has received two approvals, the change had not yet been added to the deployment specification as of 08:00 UTC on Wednesday. That document still listed the mainnet activation height as undecided.
The selected block must also be incorporated into node software before the upgrade can take effect. Until those steps are completed, November 5 remains a target rather than a confirmed launch date.
If activated as planned, NU7 will deliver faster block production while introducing changes to fee handling and ending support for Zcash's original privacy system. The upgrade represents a significant technical change for the network, with users and service providers needing to prepare before activation.