The target block time is slashed from 75 seconds down to 25 by NU7, providing a live rehearsal for exchanges, wallets, and developers ahead of a scheduled November mainnet launch.
An upgrade has been activated by Zcash on its public test network, reducing the targeted transaction batch wait time from 75 seconds to 25 and kicking off a public trial ahead of a scheduled November rollout.
At block 4,465,026, the NU7 upgrade was activated. The new rules are currently shown as active on the public test net by Zakura, a software program that tracks Zcash and verifies transactions, while its older, separate testing network has been shut down.
Payments are recorded in batches across every single block. Wait times for merchants accepting transactions or exchanges crediting deposits can be shortened by producing these blocks more rapidly, meaning a service requiring three confirmations would face a targeted wait of about 75 seconds rather than 225, provided its confirmation rules remain unaltered, though actual block intervals fluctuate.
Coins devoid of actual financial worth are utilized by the test network, providing developers and infrastructure operators with a sandbox environment where modifications can be verified prior to impacting real ZEC.
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Support for the trial is currently provided by both major node software programs, as an implementation was released by Zakura on October 1, and a test version of Zebra was published by the Zcash Foundation the day after, meaning compatible software must be run by operators to follow the upgraded test network.
NU7 Redirects Transaction Fees to Support Future Mining#
Transaction fees are redirected under NU7, with 40% being allocated to miners, while the remaining 60% is removed from circulation and stored inside a reserve designed to finance future mining incentives. Those payouts are utilized to compensate miners for verifying transactions as the supply of newly minted ZEC diminishes.
The generation of new coins is not tripled by faster blocks, because the scheduled reward per block is cut to one-third, preserving the planned issuance timeline.
Transactions belonging to Sprout, which is Zcash’s legacy private-payment architecture, are also disabled by the upgrade, meaning funds held there must be transferred prior to mainnet activation by holders wishing to preserve their ability to spend them through the current system.
Test outcomes are scheduled for review by developers, who will decide on mainnet activation during an October 20 meeting, while November 5 stays the targeted date, though no specific mainnet activation block has been locked in yet.
