Zcash developers are aiming to activate the NU7 upgrade on mainnet on November 5, a change that would cut the network’s block interval from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. The proposal would keep Zcash’s current halving schedule in place, but the timeline is still subject to testnet results before final activation details are locked in.
A testnet rollout is scheduled to begin on October 6. After that, developers plan to review network performance and use those results to confirm the mainnet activation height, which is expected to be announced on October 20.
What NU7 would change
The planned NU7 upgrade combines a major timing change with adjustments to network rules. Its most visible effect would be a move to faster blocks, reducing average block times to one-third of the current interval.
The upgrade would also disable version 4 transactions. At the same time, it would introduce the Network Sustainability Mechanism, or NSM, a design intended to preserve the existing halving cadence even as other parts of the network’s economics are updated.
How the halving schedule would be preserved
According to the proposal, the NSM would keep Zcash’s current halving schedule intact rather than shifting it because of the faster block rate. That means the network’s planned halving rhythm would remain unchanged despite the reduction in block time.
The source article says the NSM design would begin restoring previously removed supply in February 2031. Developers framed that approach as a way to make economic changes without altering the established halving structure.
Expected impact on infrastructure
Developers do not expect NU7 to introduce new transaction formats. As a result, wallets are expected to need only limited changes during the transition.
Other parts of the ecosystem may face more technical work. Full nodes, indexers, and blockchain explorers could require updates to handle the new network conditions and rule changes tied to the upgrade.
Support and next milestones
Community feedback cited in the source points to broad support for the proposal. A ZEC-weighted vote showed 99.9% support for the faster-block plan and 98.9% support for keeping the current halving structure.
Even with that backing, the November 5 target is not yet final in every detail. The next confirmed step is the October 6 testnet rollout, followed by a performance review. Developers expect to confirm the final activation height on October 20, making the test period the key checkpoint before mainnet activation.
Source: Coin Edition