Zcash has activated the NU7 upgrade on its public testnet at block 4,465,026, introducing a target block time of 25 seconds instead of the previous 75 seconds. If exchanges and other services continue requiring three confirmations, the theoretical waiting period would fall to about 75 seconds from 225 seconds. The change is still under testing and has not been applied to the mainnet.

The testnet uses coins with no monetary value, giving developers and infrastructure operators a controlled environment to assess the new protocol. NU7 also changes the distribution of transaction fees, with 60% directed to a future-reward reserve. At the same time, the block reward will be reduced to one-third to maintain the planned ZEC issuance schedule. The upgrade will also disable Sprout transactions.

ZEC/USD is down 2.5% over the last 24 hours, trading slightly above $1,300. Even after the recent decline, ZEC remains up more than 30% over the past 30 days, making it one of the strongest-performing crypto assets through September.

NU7 Could Shorten Confirmation Times

The public testnet deployment comes ahead of the planned November rollout. If NU7 reaches the mainnet, Zcash will target blocks every 25 seconds, three times more frequently than the existing 75-second schedule.

With three confirmations, the theoretical confirmation window would decrease from 225 seconds to roughly 75 seconds. Actual transaction processing times could differ, however, because block intervals can fluctuate and individual exchanges, wallets and payment services may use different confirmation thresholds.

The faster block schedule is part of a larger protocol overhaul. Under NU7, miners will receive 40% of transaction fees, while 60% will be allocated to the future-reward reserve. The block reward will also be cut to one-third.

NU7 additionally removes support for Sprout transactions, which use Zcash’s oldest privacy technology. Users with Sprout-based funds will need to move them before mainnet activation to ensure those holdings remain spendable.

More frequent blocks could help merchants and exchanges reduce the time they wait for additional transaction confirmations. However, three confirmations are simply one possible service policy and do not represent a universal requirement or guaranteed finality standard.

Because the testnet coins have no monetary value, developers and infrastructure providers can examine the effects of the upgrade without putting real ZEC at risk.

Zakura released its NU7 implementation on October 1, while the Zcash Foundation released a test version of Zebra on October 2. Both major node programs now support the upgrade trial, requiring operators to run compatible versions to participate in the updated network.

The test is therefore evaluating the broader operational impact of NU7 rather than simply measuring whether blocks arrive faster. Node operators and services can use the trial to verify software compatibility, infrastructure performance and confirmation procedures before a potential mainnet deployment.

October 20 Review Before November 5 Target

Developers are scheduled to review the test results on October 20 before deciding whether NU7 is ready for mainnet activation. November 5 remains the target date, although the network has not yet assigned a specific activation block.

The testnet launch does not guarantee that the upgrade will go live on November 5. Should NU7 proceed, its effect on Zcash payments and deposits will depend on network performance, adoption of compatible software and the confirmation requirements established by individual providers.

The 75-second estimate for three confirmations assumes that services keep their existing policies. It should therefore be viewed as a potential reduction in waiting time, not a guarantee that every wallet or exchange will credit ZEC within 75 seconds.