Zcash Holders Endorse 25-Second Blocks and Preserve ZEC Halving Schedule

Poll Outcomes on NU7 Proposals

Zcash token holders were polled on two significant upgrades proposed for the NU7 network update: the block time reduction and the halving schedule preservation. Results published Monday showed the 25-second block interval received 99.9% ZEC-weighted support, while 98.9% favored maintaining the traditional halving events that reduce new ZEC issuance periodically.

Reducing the block time aims to speed up the initial confirmation of transactions. To keep the daily issuance rate stable, the amount of ZEC released per block will be adjusted downward proportionally. Although the upgrade's activation date remains uncertain, these parameters are planned for NU7.

In addition, token holders approved excluding features that were not implemented by the established September 30 deadline, focusing the upgrade on core improvements.

Voting eligibility was limited to spendable ZEC in the Ironwood shielded pool at the snapshot moment. These results are distinct from separate polls conducted by ZecHub, the Zcash Community Advisory Panel, and other groups. Developers intend to finalize elements for NU7 by the September cutoff; however, testnet and mainnet launch timelines are still undetermined.

Halving Preservation and Community Panel Perspectives

Halving events are planned reductions in new ZEC issuance by half to control inflation and the token’s capped supply. The prevailing sentiment among token holders favored preserving the existing halving schedule, while permitting funds removed from circulation under a separate proposal to be returned through future block rewards.

The Community Advisory Panel showed a narrow division, with 57 members favoring a gradual emission curve that could replace halvings, and 54 supporting retention of halving events. This highlights ongoing discussions within the community about economic model adjustments.

Delaying the Network Sustainability Mechanism (NSM)

Another central debate concerned the NSM, an upgrade intended to recycle a portion of transaction fees back into block rewards to sustain network security, especially in light of declining block subsidies.

Around 97% of token holders voted to postpone NSM reissuance until February 2031. Approximately 2.3 million ZEC favored delay, while just over 70,000 ZEC voted for immediate initiation.

Introduced in January due to concerns over the network’s long-term security budget, the NSM’s three-part model burns and recycles 60% of ZEC transaction fees back to future block rewards, without surpassing the 21 million token maximum supply.

Market Response

Following the poll announcement, ZEC price rose 3.8% in the past 24 hours and continued an overall gain of 132% over the previous month, per CoinMarketCap data.

This price movement underscores positive reception from both the community and market toward Zcash’s protocol development and its evolving economic framework.