The Zcash development team has put forward an initiative to reduce the target block interval from 25 to 20 seconds. The goal of the change is to speed up transaction confirmations, which should simplify making payments, topping up exchange accounts, and cross-network asset swaps.
Notably, the proposal appeared just two days after the activation of the NU7 upgrade, which had already reduced the interval from 75 to 25 seconds. Thus, Zcash is demonstrating a consistent course toward increasing the speed of the network's operation.
Key parameters remain unchanged
Despite the acceleration of block creation, the daily throughput of private operations and the ZEC issuance schedule will remain at their previous levels. This means that the asset's monetary policy and its key competitive advantage — transaction confidentiality — will not undergo changes.
The initiative is planned to be put to a community vote and included in the NU7.1 upgrade. This approach reflects the project's commitment to decentralized governance, in which significant changes go through a mechanism of collective approval by network holders.
Reducing the block time to 20 seconds brings Zcash closer to the metrics of leading payment blockchains and may increase the network's appeal to users focused on fast settlements while preserving privacy.
Cryptalist analysis: The phased reduction of the block interval in Zcash is a strategic step to increase the competitiveness of private payments amid growing demand for confidential settlements. Preserving the emission schedule and the throughput of private operations minimizes risks for ZEC holders, while putting the matter to a community vote reduces the likelihood of a contentious fork. If NU7.1 is successfully implemented, the network could strengthen its position in the private transactions niche, but the ultimate effect will depend on the speed of adaptation of infrastructure — exchanges and payment services.