Zcash Crosslink Productionization Is In Progress After Swihart Criticism

Zcash’s proposed Crosslink upgrade is in productionization through Q2 2027, while developer Josh Swihart’s 2025 criticism argued that the project would add unnecessary complexity to the protocol.

On Nov. 23, 2025, Zcash developer Josh Swihart said Crosslink and Zcash Shielded Assets were not right for Zcash. “There is no need to add complexity,” he wrote.

Crosslink would add a proof-of-stake finality layer alongside Zcash’s proof-of-work mining. Mainnet inclusion would require Zcash governance approval and strong community consensus.

The feature-net program allocated 500 ZEC for testing, including 25 ZEC for its first season. Its proposed test rewards split funds among miners (40%), stakers (40%) and a development fund (20%). Those figures are testing terms, not confirmed mainnet terms.

NU7 is scheduled to activate on mainnet Nov. 5, 2026, with 25-second block spacing, v4 transactions disabled and Network Sustainability Mechanism integration. Crosslink is not included in NU7’s planned features.