According to ChainCatcher news, Zcash has activated the NU7 network upgrade on the test network and put the planned protocol changes into actual testing, about one month before its target mainnet goes online. According to data from Zcash testnet block explorer ZecBlock, the scheduled activation height block 4,465,026 of NU7 was mined at 18:21:45 UTC on October 4. Zcash later confirmed on the X platform that NU7 was running on the testnet.
NU7 is Zcash’s next network upgrade and will reduce the network’s target block interval from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. The upgrade also deactivates version 4 transactions and introduces a network sustainability mechanism that recycles a portion of transaction fees for future block rewards. Deactivating version 4 transactions also means that ZEC held in Zcash’s legacy Sprout shielded pool will not be spent unless users transfer funds before NU7 is fully activated.
The Zcash Foundation said testnet operators should use the candidate version to test NU7 under real-world conditions, with the testnet phase allowing developers to evaluate the upgrade before mainnet activation. Zcash developers plan to make a final decision on mainnet activation and determine the activation height on October 20th based on the operation of the testnet. The target date for mainnet activation is November 5th.