NU7 Protocol Upgrade Goes Live on Zcash Testnet With November Mainnet Launch Planned
The testnet deployment of Zcash's NU7 protocol upgrade is now operational, providing developers with multiple weeks to evaluate the new 25-second block timing and additional protocol modifications prior to the scheduled November mainnet deployment.
The NU7 network upgrade for Zcash has gone live on the testnet environment, advancing the planned protocol modifications into an active testing phase approximately one month ahead of its intended mainnet deployment.
Data from ZecBlock, the Zcash testnet block explorer, shows that block number 4,465,026 — which marks NU7's designated activation point — was successfully mined on Oct. 4 at precisely 18:21:45 UTC. The activation was officially acknowledged by Zcash through a post on X, confirming that NU7 had commenced operations on testnet.
As Zcash's upcoming network upgrade, NU7 aims to decrease the network's target block spacing time from the current 75 seconds down to 25 seconds. Additional changes in the upgrade include the deprecation of version 4 transactions and the implementation of a Network Sustainability Mechanism designed to channel a portion of transaction fees toward future block rewards.
The deprecation of version 4 transactions would additionally render ZEC tokens stored in Zcash's older Sprout shielded pool unable to be spent unless holders transfer the funds prior to NU7's complete activation.
In a statement released on Friday, the Zcash Foundation indicated that testnet operators should utilize the release candidate for testing NU7 "under real conditions." This testnet deployment period provides developers the opportunity to evaluate the upgrade's performance before making a determination on whether to move forward with mainnet activation.
A final determination regarding mainnet activation and the setting of its activation height is scheduled to be made by Zcash developers on Oct. 20, informed by their observations and testing of NU7 on testnet. The mainnet activation date is currently targeted for Nov. 5.