Zcash NU7 vote locks 25-second blocks and 2031 fee start

Zcash holders approved the final parameters for the NU7 upgrade with record participation, confirming a shift to 25-second blocks and a fee recycling mechanism that will not begin until February 2031. The vote resolved the shape of the network’s next phase, with 98.9% of participants backing Bitcoin-style halvings and 96.6% supporting the delayed start date for the Network Sustainability Mechanism.

The turnout marked a high-water mark for Zcash governance. Approximately 2.4 million ZEC were cast, representing 66% of the eligible shielded pool. This figure was verified against secondary reporting of the vote results, which confirmed the high participation rate and the specific block height used to fix eligibility. The voting closed on September 14, with eligibility determined by balances held at mainnet block 3,459,350 on August 24.

The consensus on technical parameters was near-unanimous. Voters approved faster 25-second blocks and a scope cut to include only features ready by September 30. Approximately 99.3% of participating ZEC backed shipping the upgrade as soon as possible under that deadline. The only significant divergence in the community was over the timing of fee recycling. While the advisory panels favored an immediate start, coinholders selected the February 2031 date, which Shielded Labs and other core contributors described as "the most conservative interpretation of the results."

The vote lands as ZEC trades near $1,368, up 10.9% on the day and 168% over the past 30 days. This performance has elevated the asset to the ninth-largest by market cap, valued at $22.9 billion according to CoinGecko data. The upgrade follows the July Ironwood update, which trapped counterfeit coins and added quantum-resistant records, contributing to a 2,500% rise in the token’s value over the past year. With the parameters locked, the focus shifts to the September 30 readiness deadline for the codebase.