Zcash

would

Sprout

Zcash (<a href="https://x.com/Zcash" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">@Zcash</a>) <a href="https://x.com/search?q=%24ZEC&amp;src=cashtag_click" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">$ZEC</a> developers have targeted November 5 for the NU7 network upgrade, which would cut block times from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. The activation is still pending final implementation in node software.
<h2 id="what-nu7-changes">What NU7 changes</h2>
The headline change is faster blocks. According to CoinCentral, the shorter interval would let users receive confirmations three times faster. KuCoin News reports the change is aimed at point-of-sale payments, exchange deposits and cross-chain bridges, where a 75-second wait can be an obstacle.
NU7 also introduces a Network Sustainability Mechanism. Crypto.news reports that the mechanism temporarily removes 60% of transaction fees from circulation. Those funds are scheduled to return as mining rewards starting in February 2031, according to the Zcash Community Forum.
The existing mining reward halving schedule would remain unchanged. According to CoinDesk, the upgrade preserves Zcash's issuance and halving schedule by reducing the reward per block and tripling the halving interval. A weighted coinholder vote showed 98.9% support for preserving the halving schedule and 99.9% backing for faster blocks, based on KuCoin News coverage.
<h2 id="what-still-needs-to-happen">What still needs to happen</h2>
The activation height has been proposed but is not yet final. Crypto.news reports that developers selected block 3,543,405 as the planned activation point, expected around November 5. The proposal came from developer Sean Bowe in an October 20 GitHub submission after ZIP editors agreed on the height. It still needs to be integrated into the network's deployment specification.
CoinCentral notes that the date remains provisional until developers complete the required software changes, and that the decision advances the upgrade but does not guarantee a November launch.
Users with funds in Zcash's original Sprout shielded pool should also take note. NU7 disables version 4 transactions, and Bloomingbit reports that ZEC left in the Sprout pool will become unusable once the upgrade is fully activated, so holders must move their funds beforehand. Ordinary ZEC holders outside Sprout do not need to move coins, according to CryptoTicker. Action is required mainly from those running their own node, indexer or block explorer.
NU7 was activated on Zcash's public testnet on October 4, giving exchanges, wallets and infrastructure providers an environment to test the new rules ahead of mainnet.
Sources:
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/09/18/zcash-targets-november-upgrade-to-make-private-payments-up-to-three-times-faster" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CoinDesk: Zcash targets November upgrade to make private payments up to three times faster</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://crypto.news/zcash-nu7-activation-november-5-25-second-blocks/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Crypto.news: Zcash developers select November 5 target for NU7 upgrade</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/nu7-timeline/57655" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Zcash Community Forum: NU7 Timeline</a></li>
</ul>

Zcash Plans to Triple its Block Production Speed

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