Zcash NU7 Upgrade Goes Live on Testnet Ahead of November Mainnet Target

Zcash has switched on its NU7 network upgrade on testnet, putting the planned protocol changes into live testing roughly a month before the targeted mainnet rollout. The testnet block explorer shows block 4,465,026, the scheduled activation point, was mined on Oct. 4 at 18:21:45 UTC, and the Zcash team confirmed on X that NU7 was running on testnet.

NU7 Features: 25-Second Blocks and Network Sustainability Mechanism

NU7 is the next network upgrade for Zcash. It cuts the target block spacing from 75 seconds to 25 seconds, turns off version 4 transactions, and brings in a Network Sustainability Mechanism that sends part of transaction fees into future block rewards.

Sprout Pool ZEC at Risk

Because version 4 transactions will be disabled, ZEC sitting in the legacy Sprout shielded pool will become unspendable unless holders move it before NU7 fully activates.

Zcash Mainnet Activation Date and Next Steps

The Zcash Foundation said testnet operators should run the release candidate to test NU7 under real conditions, giving developers time to judge the upgrade before committing to mainnet. Developers are scheduled to make the final call and set the activation height on Oct. 20, using what they learn on testnet. Mainnet activation is currently targeted for Nov. 5.