Zcash Developers Propose 20-Second Block Interval

Zcash developers ValarDragon (Dev Ojha) and Evan Forbes have proposed reducing the network’s target block interval from 25 seconds to 20 seconds, seeking community consideration for a possible NU7.1 upgrade. The change remains a draft, with no approval or activation date announced.

The proposal, published on the Zcash community forum on November 8, follows the NU7 upgrade, which activated on November 6 at block 3,543,405. NU7 reduced the target interval from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. The developers are asking for the further reduction to be considered in an upcoming community poll before any inclusion in NU7.1.

Under the draft, the expected wait for one confirmation would fall from 25 seconds to 20 seconds. A transaction requiring three confirmations would have an expected wait of 60 seconds rather than 75. Actual block timing can vary, and exchanges or other services set their own confirmation requirements before making deposits available. The proposal identifies retail payments, exchange deposits and cross-chain swaps as uses that could benefit from shorter waits.

The developers say the change is intended to reduce latency, not expand daily shielded transaction capacity. The...