Zcash, the privacy-oriented cryptocurrency, is preparing for a significant network upgrade named NU7, with activation expected on November 5. The planned upgrade comes as shielded transaction activity on the network has reached its highest level in four years, highlighting growing user interest in privacy features.
Quantum-safe milestone and shielded activity surge
In August, StarkWare, a blockchain technology firm co-founded by Eli Ben-Sasson, successfully mined the first quantum-safe Bitcoin transaction. This achievement on the Bitcoin mainnet demonstrated resilience against theoretical attacks from quantum computers, a step forward for long-term cryptographic security in blockchain networks.
Zcash, co-founded by key figures in cryptographic research, focuses on delivering financial privacy to its users through shielded transactions, which mask sender, receiver, and amount details on the public blockchain. In recent days, developers revealed that shielded Zcash transactions reached 62,379 in the past week, notching the highest weekly total since 2022.
Shielded Zcash activity just hit a four-year high with 62,379 transactions recorded in the past week, marking the highest weekly usage since 2022.
Mini dictionary: StarkWare is a blockchain technology company known for developing scalable cryptographic solutions, such as zero-knowledge proofs and quantum-resistant protocols, to enhance blockchain security and privacy.
Details of the NU7 network upgrade
According to Zcash developers, the NU7 upgrade is set to introduce multiple changes aimed at improving network efficiency and security. The upgrade will reduce block time—from 75 seconds to 25 seconds—enabling faster processing of transactions across the network. The scheduled date for the testnet activation is October 6, allowing developers and node operators to verify the update before the mainnet launch in early November.
In addition to the accelerated block time (ZIP-218), the upgrade will disable v4 transactions, bolstering network security. NU7 also integrates NSM (Not So Many), according to specifications in ZIP-234 (alternate) and ZIP-235. Based on recent polling results within the Zcash community, the upgrade will preserve the protocol’s halving cycle, with reintroductions taking effect starting February 2031.
| NU7 Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Block Time | Reduced from 75s to 25s (ZIP-218) |
| v4 Transactions | Disabled for added security |
| NSM Integration | Implements ZIP-234 (alt) and ZIP-235 |
| Halvings | Preserved, reintroduced from Feb. 2031 |
Zcash market performance and future outlook
At the time of reporting, Zcash was trading at $15.96, a 5.76% increase over the previous 24 hours and a 27% rise over the past week. Zooko Wilcox and his team, who originally launched Zcash to address privacy gaps in blockchain technology, continue to prioritize usability and cost efficiency to drive adoption.
Eli Ben-Sasson stated that for privacy features and advanced cryptographic protections to find broader usage, they must be accessible and affordable to users.
For privacy and security enhancements to gain mainstream adoption, they need to be simple to use and available at a low cost.
