Zcash Sets NU7 Activation Height at 3,543,405, Targets Nov. 5

Zcash (ZEC) developers have set block 3,543,405 as the NU7 mainnet activation point, a change that will triple the target block frequency and revise transaction rules.

A proposal adding the height was merged Oct. 21, moving it into the network’s deployment plan. Developers are targeting Nov. 5, 2026, for the chain to reach that block. The target date does not set a particular hour; activation is controlled by the network reaching the specified height.

The Zcash Foundation released Zebra 7.0.0, a stable version of its node software, on Oct. 22. The release supports NU7 on mainnet at the specified height. NU7 had already activated on the public testnet at block 4,465,026 on Oct. 4.

NU7 lowers the target interval between blocks from 75 seconds to 25 seconds, meaning the network aims to produce blocks three times as often. The expected average wait for a first confirmation also falls from 75 seconds to 25 seconds, although individual transactions can take more or less time. The shorter target is intended to reduce confirmation delays for payments, exchange deposits and cross-chain transfers.

The upgrade also introduces the Network Sustainability Mechanism, which removes 60% of transaction fees from circulation. Mainnet reissuance is set at block 8,939,664.

Transaction compatibility will change at activation: version 4 transactions become invalid, while versions 5 and 6 remain valid. Transfers out of Sprout, Zcash’s original shielded pool, can only use version 4, so ZEC left there at activation becomes unspendable. Holders with funds in the pool need to move them beforehand, as covered in our earlier report on the Sprout shutdown.

Node operators running software without NU7 support may stay online but follow a pre-upgrade branch of the network after activation. Operators who want to follow the upgraded rules need compatible software before block 3,543,405 arrives. Zebra 7.0.0 is a stable release with that support.