ZecZcashZcash is preparing for its next major protocol upgrade.
The current NU7 timeline targets November 5, 2026 for mainnet activation, following a testnet launch planned for October 6 and a final activation decision on October 20.
At the center of NU7 is one of the most significant performance changes to Zcash in years: ZIP 218 proposes reducing the target block time from 75 seconds to 25 seconds.
That would mean:
⚡ 3× more frequent blocks
⛏ 25-second target block spacing
🔒 Discrete ZEC halvings preserved under the current plan
🧩 Network Sustainability Mechanism (NSM) integration
🔧 Protocol and transaction-format upgrades
The faster block schedule does not mean ZEC issuance suddenly triples. ZIP 218 adjusts the subsidy per block so that the targeted issuance rate per unit of time remains consistent when blocks become three times more frequent.
NU7 is also expected to increase several consensus limits affecting shielded transaction actions and disable legacy v4 transactions. Full nodes, indexers and block explorers may require changes, while the current planning notes that wallets are not expected to require significant changes.
The timeline is not final yet
The dates remain targets rather than completed activation commitments.
October 6: Targeted testnet activation
October 20: Final go/no-go decision and mainnet activation height
November 5: Targeted NU7 mainnet activation
That October 20 decision is particularly important: the final activation height will determine exactly when the new consensus rules take effect.
NU7 therefore represents more than a routine network upgrade. If the current proposal proceeds, Zcash would move to substantially faster block production while preserving its privacy-focused architecture and discrete halving model.
Primary sources: Zcash Community Forum — NU7 Timeline; ZIP 218 — 25-second Block Target Spacing.
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