Zcash activated NU7 at block 3,543,405, reducing its target block interval from 75 seconds to 25 seconds and increasing potential shielded transaction capacity. The upgrade redirects 60% of t
Zcash has activated its NU7 network upgrade on mainnet, introducing faster block production and changes to how transaction fees support the network’s long-term security.
The upgrade went live at block height 3,543,405 on November 6 at 02:34 UTC, according to blockchain tracking data. It reduces the target time between blocks from 75 seconds to 25 seconds, allowing transactions to receive their first confirmation more quickly.
(Source: ZecBlock)
The change could make Zcash payments more practical for everyday transfers, exchange deposits and merchant transactions. However, the actual time users wait will depend on network conditions and the confirmation requirements set by individual services.
NU7 also introduces changes to the network’s shielded transaction system, which allows users to send ZEC without publicly revealing the sender, recipient or transaction amount.
One of the major changes involves the Network Sustainability Mechanism (NSM). Under the new rules, miners receive 40% of transaction fees, while the remaining 60% goes into a reserve intended to support future mining rewards.
The reserve will not immediately distribute rewards. Its scheduled reissuance is expected to begin around February 2031, at block height 8,939,664. The mechanism is designed to provide an additional source of mining incentives as regular block subsidies decline.
The upgrade also retires Zcash’s original Sprout privacy pool, introduced when the network launched in 2016. Version 4 transactions are now invalid, making approximately 12,224 ZEC remaining in Sprout unspendable through the existing protocol. No approved recovery mechanism is currently available.
Meanwhile, NU7 introduces limits on shielded transactions per block to reduce the amount of blockchain data wallets must download when searching for private payments. The changes could increase the capacity for simple Orchard transactions from approximately 2.9 to 6.6 transactions per second.
Despite the faster block schedule and revised fee system, Zcash’s maximum supply remains unchanged at 21 million ZEC. The upgrade also adjusts the block subsidy to maintain the same daily issuance.
NU7 marks a major change to Zcash’s transaction processing and mining economics, with the network now operating under its new consensus rules.
