{
  "id": 12074686,
  "title": "Zcash’s 25-second blocks go live on public testnet ahead of schedule",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/zcashs-25-second-blocks-go-live-on-public-testnet-ahead-of-schedule",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-05T04:41:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CoinDesk",
    "slug": "coindesk",
    "url": "https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/10/05/zcash-s-25-second-blocks-go-live-on-public-testnet-ahead-of-schedule"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Zcash's network upgrade, NU7, is now live on the public testnet. This upgrade aims to reduce the target block time from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. According to Cointelegraph, the activation occurred on October 4 at 18:21:45 UTC at block 4,465,026.\n\nThe testnet phase allows developers to assess the upgrade, including the new block time and a Network Sustainability Mechanism that redirects part of transaction fees into future block rewards. This mechanism also disables version 4 transactions, which will leave ZEC held in Zcash's legacy Sprout shielded pool unspendable unless users move the funds before NU7 fully activates.\n\nThe Zcash Foundation has encouraged testnet operators to use the release candidate to test NU7 \"under real conditions.\" A final decision on mainnet activation is scheduled for October 20. CoinDesk reports that the planned mainnet launch is set for November.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Cointelegraph",
        "title": "Zcash activates NU7 on testnet ahead of November mainnet target",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/zcash-activates-nu7-on-testnet-ahead-of-november-mainnet-target",
        "published": "2026-10-05T03:47:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}