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Zcash activates NU7 upgrade, retiring Sprout pool and cutting block target
The network upgrade went live at block 3,543,405, reducing the target block interval to 25 seconds and leaving about 12,224 ZEC in Sprout unspendable.
Key takeaways
- Sprout retirement. About 12,224 ZEC in the legacy Sprout pool became unspendable; the funds were not burned and a future upgrade could restore access, though no change is approved.
- Faster target. NU7 lowers the target block interval from 75 seconds to 25, but observed intervals initially averaged about 39 seconds as difficulty adjusted.
- Supply unchanged. Zcash keeps its 21 million ZEC cap and halving schedule; 60% of fees go to a mechanism for future miner rewards around February 2031.
What happened
Zcash's NU7 upgrade activated at block 3,543,405 at about 02:34 UTC on Nov. 6, according to blockchain tracker ZecStats and reports from Cointelegraph and Crypto.news. The change rejects version 4 transactions, the only format that can spend funds held in Sprout, Zcash's original shielded pool. As a result, roughly 12,224 ZEC in Sprout became unspendable under current consensus rules, with Cointelegraph putting the value at about $15 million and Crypto.news estimating $15.3 million at the reported market price. The coins were not burned.
NU7 also cuts Zcash's target time between blocks from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. Crypto.news reported that blocks did not immediately hit the new target: in the first few hours, observed intervals averaged around 39 seconds while mining difficulty adjusted. The specification estimates Orchard transaction capacity rising from about 2.9 to 6.6 transactions per second. New limits on shielded activity are intended to reduce wallet synchronization work, with developers estimating the worst-case daily download requirement falling from 271 megabytes to 169 megabytes.
On fees, miners now receive 40% of transaction fees, while 60% goes to the Network Sustainability Mechanism for eventual reissuance through future mining rewards starting around February 2031. Zcash keeps its 21 million ZEC supply cap and halving schedule. The upgrade maintains the existing daily issuance schedule by lowering the reward paid per block, so faster block production does not automatically create more coins.
First $1.3KLatest $1.3K-4.7% over the period
Points are daily observations, not closing prices.
Why it matters
NU7 is a broad consensus change rather than a single feature. Faster target block times could shorten payment confirmations, but Crypto.news noted that actual waiting times still depend on network conditions and the number of confirmations required by a wallet, merchant or exchange. The shielded-activity limits affect wallet performance, while the fee mechanism changes how transaction fees are allocated over the long term.
The Sprout retirement is the most sensitive part for holders. Because version 4 transactions are rejected, legacy funds cannot move under the new rules. The specification leaves open the possibility of restoring access in a later upgrade, either by re-enabling version 4 transactions or through another retrieval mechanism, but it also warns that the ability to spend Sprout funds may never be re-enabled. Crypto.news reported that co-founder Sean Bowe had discussed the retirement and a possible recovery mechanism, but no such change has been approved. Analyst Crypto Patel raised concerns about user confidence, according to the same report.
What the data shows
Reported figures around NU7 include block 3,543,405, a target block interval cut from 75 to 25 seconds, observed early intervals near 39 seconds, and an estimated Orchard capacity increase from 2.9 to 6.6 transactions per second. The worst-case daily download estimate falls from 271 MB to 169 MB. About 12,224 ZEC remains in Sprout, valued at roughly $15 million to $15.3 million depending on the report. The fee split is 40% to miners and 60% to the Network Sustainability Mechanism, with future rewards around February 2031.
On the market side, Crypto.news reported ZEC near $1,250 on Nov. 6, down almost 6% over 24 hours, with volume at $1.33 billion. The 24-hour range was $1,217.35 to $1,330.22; the token was down 0.78% over seven days and about 4.94% over the prior month. The report cited Bollinger Bands with a middle line at $1,235.20, upper band at $1,343.58 and lower band at $1,126.81, and an Aroon Up reading of 7.14% against Aroon Down at 42.86%. It also noted analyst More Crypto Online saying ZEC was still following an ascending price channel.
Background
Sprout was Zcash's first shielded pool, and version 4 transactions were the format that supported spending from it. Zcash developers confirmed the activation height in October, giving node operators time to install compatible software. Before activation, Crypto.news reported seven Zebra security fixes in the release supporting NU7, and operators were told to upgrade to remain compatible with the new consensus rules.
The upgrade is part of a move toward faster blocks and more limited shielded scanning. Zcash's supply schedule remains a fixed part of the design, and the NU7 fee change does not alter the 21 million cap or the halving timeline.
What to watch
Key items to watch include whether a future network upgrade restores access to Sprout funds, how quickly block intervals settle near the 25-second target, and how the new shielded-activity limits affect wallets in practice. The timing of the Network Sustainability Mechanism's future rewards, around February 2031, is also part of the upgrade's long-term design. Market reaction remains separate from the technical changes; the reports describe ZEC's move alongside broader selling pressure without forecasting direction.
Questions readers ask
What happened to the ZEC in Sprout?
About 12,224 ZEC became unspendable under NU7 because version 4 transactions are rejected. The coins were not burned, and a later upgrade could potentially restore access, though no such change has been approved.
Did NU7 change Zcash's 21 million supply cap?
No. Reports say the cap and halving schedule are preserved. The upgrade keeps daily issuance on the same schedule by reducing the per-block reward.
Why did ZEC fall after the upgrade?
Crypto.news reported ZEC near $1,250, down almost 6% in 24 hours, amid selling pressure across major cryptocurrencies. The reports do not establish a direct causal link between the upgrade and the price move.
