Zcash Is Running—Devs Want to Make It Faster
Zcash plans to activate NU7 on Nov. 5, with testnet launch on Oct. 6 and final mainnet timing set Oct. 20. The main change is faster block times, cut from 75 seconds to 25, making shielded transactions confirm much faster. To avoid tripling coin issuance, ZIP 218 lowers the per-block reward so total issuance per unit of time stays unchanged. NU7 also adds a Network Sustainability Mechanism that retains about 60% of transaction fees and releases them as extra mining rewards starting in February 2031, helping fund security as block subsidies decline. The upgrade keeps Zcash’s fixed-supply model intact and does not require major wallet changes or new transaction types. The timing comes after recent network strain, including the Ironwood fix for a serious bug, while ZEC has rebounded sharply over the past year.
