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ZEC Zcash NU7 upgrade has been activated on the public test network
On October 4, 2026, at a block height of 4,465,026, Zcash's NU7 upgrade was officially activated on its public test network. This move marks that planned protocol changes have entered the real-time preview environment in front of the main network. The most significant change in this upgrade is the shortening of the target block interval from 75 seconds to 25 seconds, aiming to reduce the average waiting time for first confirmation by two-thirds.
It should be emphasized that the deployment of the public test network is a drill, not the official launch of the main network. Developers plan to evaluate its performance before making a final decision to decide whether to move forward with the activation operation originally scheduled for November.
NU7 launches testnet at a specific block height
Unchained reported via Yahoo Finance that the upgrade has been completed at testnet block 4,465,026. For node operators, this deployment requires software support before that level, not just changes to user-facing applications.
The Zcash Foundation said its release of Zebra 7.0.0-rc.0 is the first release candidate to support the public test network NU7 and instructs operators to upgrade before activation. The release candidate is used to test software under conditions closer to actual network deployment, but has not yet met the standards for production-level mainnetwork deployment.
This distinction is critical in this case because NU7 not only changes the block timing mechanism, but also involves changes that affect transaction compatibility and the accounting treatment of agreement issuance. The testnet phase provides a clear period for developers to jointly review these changes before choosing a mainnet activation level.
ZIP 218 shortens target block interval to 25 seconds
According to the ZIP 218 specification, NU7 adjusted Zcash's target block interval time from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. The upgrade specification states that the goal is to triple the average time waiting for first confirmation.
This change is intended to improve the wait time for first confirmation rather than increase the number of ZECs issued overall.
More frequent block generation will not speed up ZEC issuance
In general, more frequent block generation raises questions about supply: If the reward for each block remains the same, networks that generate more blocks will distribute tokens more quickly. However, NU7 aims to avoid this by combining time adjustments with adjustments for each subsidy.
The Zcash Foundation stated that subsidy adjustments have taken into account higher block frequencies. According to the foundation, the move retains Zcash's existing release schedule and maintains a supply cap of 21 million ZECs.
Taken together, these measures aim to reduce waiting times for first confirmation while avoiding accelerating releases to fixed supply caps.
NU7 disables v4 trading and sets Sprout migration deadline
NU7 also has compatibility consequences for holders of funds from Zcash's traditional Sprout pool. According to the upgrade specifications, the upgrade disables version 4 (v4) transactions.
Therefore, unless transferred early, funds stranded in the Sprout pool will become unspent after NU7 activation. Deadlines are pegged to the activation itself, which makes the issue independent of the faster block-time proposal and directly related to any remaining old pool balance.
Thespecification clearly states that the disabling of v4 transactions is part of the upgrade, so the change does not depend on a future free migration period after activation. As a result, users and services holding Sprout funds face operational requirements to transfer funds before the final activation point.
The October 20 review will pave the way for the November 5 mainnet activation
Developers have set November 5, 2026 as the target date for the NU7 mainnet activation, but the date is still conditional. According to the timetable of the Zcash community forum, October 20 will be the final decision point. After reviewing the performance of the testnet, developers will determine whether to launch and select a specific activation height.
This process leaves approximately a month between the public test net activation and the target mainnet date. During this period, faster target spacing for the network, revised subsidy calculations, and transaction version changes can be reviewed in a testing environment before the main network height is determined.
Currently, November 5 is only a target, not a confirmed release date. The October 20 review is the next established decision point in determining whether NU7 will enter the Zcash main network.
