Zcash's NU7 is live on testnet with 25-second blocks; the mainnet decision is due on 20 October
Victoria Shinder1 min readZcash's next network upgrade, NU7, activated on testnet on 4 October, Cointelegraph reports. According to the ZecBlock testnet explorer, block 4,465,026, the scheduled activation height, was mined at 18:21:45 UTC, and Zcash confirmed the activation in a post on X.
What NU7 changes.
- Faster blocks. Target block spacing falls from 75 seconds to 25 seconds.
- Version 4 transactions disabled. A consequence is that ZEC still held in the legacy Sprout shielded pool becomes unspendable unless it is moved before NU7 fully activates.
- Network Sustainability Mechanism. Part of transaction fees is redirected into future block rewards.
What happens next. The Zcash Foundation said on 2 October that testnet operators should use the release candidate to test NU7 "under real conditions". Developers are scheduled to decide on mainnet activation, and set its activation height, on 20 October, based on how the testnet behaves. Mainnet activation is targeted for 5 November.
Who needs to act. Node and wallet operators have the testnet window to check their software against shorter blocks and the removal of v4 transactions. Holders with any balance left in the Sprout pool have a deadline: the funds need to be moved before mainnet activation, which is now about a month away if the 20 October decision goes ahead.