Zcash Sets November Date for Major NU7 Network Upgrade

Zcash developers have set November 5 as the target date for activating NU7, a major network upgrade, following unanimous agreement among engineering teams and organizations on its contents and timeline. Testnet activation is scheduled for October 6, with a final decision on the mainnet rollout expected October 20, pending an evaluation of testnet performance.

Faster Block Times and Supply Changes

The upgrade will cut Zcash’s target block spacing from 75 seconds down to 25 seconds, significantly speeding up transaction confirmation times. NU7 will also disable older version 4 transactions and introduce the Network Sustainability Mechanism, a system designed to preserve Zcash’s existing halving schedule. Under the selected configuration, previously removed coin supply will begin reentering circulation starting in February 2031.

Minimal Impact Expected for Everyday Users

According to Zcash developer Sean Bowe, the upgrade will not introduce new transaction formats and should have little effect on most wallet users. However, he noted that full nodes, blockchain indexers, and block explorers may need technical adjustments to remain compatible with the changes.

Price Surge Coincides With Upgrade News

The announcement comes as ZEC’s price jumped sharply, rising roughly 20% within 24 hours as privacy-focused cryptocurrencies significantly outperformed the broader crypto market. Data shows the privacy coin sector has surged well over 200% since Bitcoin’s peak last October, far outpacing gains seen across the rest of the market.