Summary
- Zcash’s NU7 upgrade will reduce block times from 75 seconds to 25 seconds, accelerating transaction confirmations without changing daily issuance.
- Zebra 7.0.0 introduces NU7 compatibility, addresses seven security advisories, and strengthens shielded transaction protection while improving network synchronization and throughput.
- NU7 will allocate 60% of transaction fees to network reserves, while miners retain 40%, preserving Zcash’s existing supply cap.
Zcash is preparing to accelerate transaction confirmations through a network upgrade scheduled for November 5, bringing significant changes to blockchain operations. Network Upgrade 7 (NU7) will reduce block times from 75 seconds to 25 seconds, making transaction confirmations approximately three times faster.
According to the upgrade schedule, NU7 will activate at block height 3,543,405, introducing changes to transaction fees, mining rewards, and shielded transactions while disabling legacy Sprout transactions and requiring affected users to migrate their holdings to the Sapling pool.
Zcash previously reduced block times through its Blossom upgrade in 2019, lowering the interval from 150 seconds to 75 seconds. NU7 represents another major adjustment to transaction processing while maintaining the network’s existing cryptocurrency issuance schedule.
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Zcash Releases Zebra 7.0.0 Ahead of November Upgrade
Zcash released Zebra 7.0.0 on October 22, introducing the first stable Mainnet software version supporting the upcoming NU7 activation. Network operators must install the updated software before block height 3,543,405 to remain compatible with the upgraded blockchain.
Meanwhile, older Zebra 6.4.x versions will automatically stop operating several days before activation, making timely upgrades necessary for node operators. The release also addresses seven security advisories and improves synchronization reliability near the blockchain’s latest blocks.
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Under ZIP 218, Zcash will reduce the average waiting period for initial transaction confirmations from 75 seconds to approximately 25 seconds. Despite faster block production, daily ZEC issuance will remain unchanged, preserving the network’s existing monetary schedule.
Additionally, NU7 introduces transaction limits across Orchard, Ironwood, and Sapling to strengthen protection against spam affecting shielded wallets. These adjustments will increase Orchard throughput from 2.9 to 6.6 transactions per second. The changes will also reduce worst-case synchronization bandwidth demands from spam attacks against lightweight wallets by approximately 37%.
NU7 Introduces New Transaction Fee Distribution Mechanism
Beyond faster confirmations, NU7 will introduce a Network Sustainability Mechanism designed to support blockchain security through transaction fee allocation. Under ZIP 235, miners will receive 40% of transaction fees, while the network will allocate the remaining 60% to reserves.
Subsequently, ZIP 237 will allow the network to distribute predictable portions of accumulated reserves alongside regular mining rewards. This distribution will begin at block height 8,939,664 under the specifications outlined in ZIP 259.
Significantly, the changes will preserve Zcash’s four-year halving schedule and its maximum supply of 21 million ZEC. Meanwhile, users holding funds in the discontinued Sprout pool must migrate their assets before NU7 activation to avoid transaction restrictions.
The November 5 upgrade will therefore combine faster confirmations, revised fee allocation, and additional safeguards across Zcash’s shielded transaction infrastructure.
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