Zcash holders have voted to reduce the network's block time from 75 seconds to 25 seconds, cutting the interval between blocks by 50 seconds in a significant protocol upgrade. The change is expected to improve transaction speed while preserving the project's existing monetary policy.

The proposal received community support through Zcash's governance process. Block time — the interval at which new blocks are added to a blockchain — is one of the most fundamental parameters of any chain, directly shaping how quickly transactions receive their first confirmation. Shorter block times are expected to enable faster block production, allowing transactions to receive confirmations more quickly — blocks will be produced three times as frequently — and improving the overall user experience. The change is aimed at enhancing network performance without altering the core economic design of the blockchain.

News of the vote was shared by Cointelegraph on X on September 16, 2026:

NEW: Zcash holders vote to cut block times from 75 to 25 seconds and retain the network’s Bitcoin-style halving schedule. pic.twitter.com/rGVLADdNjX
— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) September 16, 2026

Bitcoin- Halving Schedule Remains Unchanged

Alongside the faster block times, Zcash holders also voted to retain the network's Bitcoin-style halving schedule. Halving models — in which block rewards are cut on a fixed, predetermined schedule rather than by discretionary decisions — were pioneered by Bitcoin and have since become a common template for predictable issuance across the industry. Keeping the existing issuance model means block rewards will continue to be reduced at regular intervals, preserving Zcash's long-term monetary policy and predictable supply issuance.

The decision balances technical improvements with continuity in the network's tokenomics. Taken together, faster blocks and an unchanged halving schedule reflect the community's focus on improving usability while maintaining economic stability.

Network Evolution Continues

The block time upgrade highlights the project's ongoing efforts to improve blockchain efficiency without changing its core monetary framework. As implementation moves forward, users and developers will be watching how the shorter block intervals affect transaction throughput, overall network performance, and broader adoption across the ecosystem.

Maintaining the established halving schedule also reinforces Zcash's commitment to a predictable supply model as the protocol's technical parameters evolve.