Zcash NU7 Is Live: Block Times Drop From 75 Seconds to 25 Seconds

By Kevin · 2026-11-07 · News

Nov. 7 (CandyPulse) — Private payments on Zcash just got a lot quicker. The network's NU7 upgrade went live on mainnet on Nov. 6, cutting the target time between blocks from 75 seconds to 25 seconds, three times faster.

Key takeaways

NU7 activated on Zcash mainnet at block 3,543,405, around 02:34 UTC on Nov. 6
The target block time drops from 75 seconds to 25 seconds
Block rewards were cut by the same factor, from 1.5625 to about 0.52 ZEC, so issuance stays near 75 ZEC an hour
A new Network Sustainability Mechanism sends 60% of fees to a reserve and 40% to miners
Estimated private (Orchard) capacity rises from about 2.9 to 6.6 transactions per second
Early blocks averaged 39 seconds while mining difficulty adjusts toward the 25-second target

What NU7 changes

Item	Before	After NU7
Target block time	75 seconds	25 seconds
Block reward	1.5625 ZEC	About 0.52 ZEC
New ZEC per hour	About 75	About 75 (unchanged)
Transaction fees	To miners	60% reserve / 40% miners
Orchard capacity (est.)	About 2.9 tx/s	About 6.6 tx/s
Old Sprout pool	Active	Retired

Why it matters

Faster blocks mean payments confirm sooner, which makes Zcash more practical for everyday private transactions. Crucially, the upgrade doesn't print more ZEC: smaller rewards per block offset the faster pace.

There are trade-offs. Faster blocks can mean more orphaned blocks (valid blocks that get discarded); tests showed 3.43% at 25 seconds versus 1.57% at 75 seconds. NU7 also retires the old Sprout pool and stops accepting version 4 transactions, so users of very old wallets should update.

We covered the upgrade when it hit testnet: Zcash NU7 tested 25-second blocks. For background on Zcash's privacy features, see how hacked ZEC moved into a shielded pool.

What's next

Watch whether average block times settle near 25 seconds as difficulty adjusts, how exchanges and wallets handle the change, and whether faster confirmations lift real usage. Check live prices on Crypto prices today and look up terms in our crypto glossary.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile and can lose value. Always do your own research before making any investment decision.