Zcash has activated its NU7 network upgrade on testnet, moving a set of planned protocol changes into live testing roughly one month before the targeted mainnet rollout. According to data from ZecBlock, the Zcash testnet block explorer, the scheduled activation height of 4,465,026 was mined at 18:21:45 UTC on Oct. 4. Zcash later confirmed on X that NU7 was running on testnet.
NU7 is the next network upgrade for Zcash. It will reduce the network’s target block interval from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. The upgrade will also disable version 4 transactions and add a network sustainability mechanism that redirects part of transaction fees toward future block rewards.
That change carries a direct consequence for older funds. Once version 4 transactions are disabled, ZEC held in Zcash’s legacy Sprout shielded pool will become unspendable if users do not move those funds before NU7 is fully activated. The Zcash Foundation said testnet operators should use the candidate release to test NU7 under real conditions, giving developers time to evaluate the upgrade ahead of mainnet activation. Zcash developers plan to make a final decision on mainnet activation and set the activation height on Oct. 20, based on how the testnet performs.
Zcash has activated its NU7 network upgrade on testnet, putting the planned protocol changes into live testing about a month before the targeted mainnet launch.
According to ZecBlock, the Zcash testnet block explorer, the scheduled activation block at height 4,465,026 was mined at 18:21:45 UTC on Oct. 4. Zcash later confirmed on X that NU7 was running on testnet.
Key changes in NU7
NU7 is Zcash’s next network upgrade and will cut the network’s target block interval from 75 seconds to 25 seconds.
The upgrade will also disable version 4 transactions and introduce a network sustainability mechanism that recycles part of transaction fees for future block rewards.
Impact on the legacy Sprout shielded pool
Disabling version 4 transactions also means ZEC held in Zcash’s older Sprout shielded pool will become unspendable if users do not move those funds before NU7 is fully activated.
Testnet process and mainnet timeline
The Zcash Foundation said testnet operators should use the candidate release to test NU7 under real-world conditions. The testnet phase also gives developers a chance to evaluate the upgrade before it reaches mainnet.
Zcash developers plan to make a final decision on mainnet activation on Oct. 20, based on testnet performance, and set the activation height at that time. The target date for mainnet activation is Nov. 5.
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