Zcash Community Votes to Speed Up Block Time, Preserve Halvings

The Zcash community has made its position clear regarding the upcoming NU7 network upgrade. In a recent poll, token holders overwhelmingly supported reducing the target block time to 25 seconds from 75 seconds. This change aims to increase the frequency of block production, making the network more efficient.

But that's not all - voters also chose to preserve Zcash's existing halving schedule. Halvings are events where the issuance of new ZEC is reduced by half, and maintaining this schedule will help keep long-term emissions predictable.

The poll results reflect a strong preference among token holders for keeping the halving mechanics intact. However, not everyone agrees - the advisory-panel vote showed a closer split, with 57 members favoring a gradual issuance curve that would replace halvings.

Another key aspect of the NU7 upgrade is the Network Sustainability Mechanism (NSM). Token holders strongly preferred delaying its reissuance until February 2031. NSM aims to recycle transaction fees back into a pool, but some community members are concerned about its long-term implications.