Oct. 5 (CandyPulse) — Zcash is getting faster. The privacy-focused network's NU7 upgrade has gone live on its public testnet, cutting the time between blocks from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. A mainnet launch is targeted for November.
Key takeaways
| Change | Before | After NU7 |
|---|---|---|
| Target block time | 75 seconds | 25 seconds |
| Version 4 transactions | Allowed | Disabled |
| Transaction fees | Paid to miners | 40% to miners, 60% to a reserve for future block rewards |
A block time of 25 seconds means transactions get their first confirmation about three times faster. For everyday payments, that makes Zcash feel noticeably more responsive.
NU7 also introduces a Network Sustainability Mechanism. Instead of miners keeping all transaction fees, 40% go to miners and 60% go into a reserve that funds future block rewards. The idea is to support the network's security over the long term, as new coin issuance shrinks.
Zcash has been in the spotlight lately. Privacy is becoming a big theme across crypto, and Zcash's shielded transactions are among the best-known privacy tools. At the same time, the network faces scrutiny when its privacy features are used to hide stolen funds, as happened after the recent Bitget hack.
A faster, more sustainable network could help Zcash compete as demand for private payments grows.
Developers will review how NU7 performs on testnet and make a final decision on October 20, including the exact activation block. If all goes well, mainnet activation is targeted for November 5. Node operators and exchanges will need to upgrade before then.
This article is for information only and is not financial advice.