Zcash devs propose another block time cut days after NU7 upgrade

Zcash developers have proposed reducing the blockchain’s target block interval from 25 seconds to 20 seconds, seeking faster transaction confirmations days after activating the NU7 upgrade. 

On Sunday, developers ValarDragon and Evan Forbes submitted a draft Zcash Improvement Proposal (ZIP) on the Zcash community forum, saying that they want the change to be included in the next community poll and considered for the upcoming NU7.1 network upgrade.

The reduction would shorten the expected wait for initial transaction confirmations. According to the proposal, this would improve the user experience for point-of-sale payments, exchange deposits and cross-chain swaps.

The developers said the change would not increase the network’s overall daily capacity for private transactions. The proposal would also preserve Zcash’s existing issuance schedule, despite blocks being produced more frequently.

The proposal comes just days after Zcash’s NU7 upgrade went live. On Friday, the NU7 upgrade was activated on the mainnet, cutting the network’s target block interval from 75 seconds to 25 seconds.

The upgrade also introduced a Network Sustainability Mechanism designed to recycle a portion of transaction fees into future mining rewards while preserving Zcash’s 21 million ZEC supply cap.

Related: Zcash grants group offers $124M compromise as governance backlash grows