Zcash plans to combine Bitcoin’s security features with block speeds comparable to Solana’s, but the proposed Crosslink upgrade has divided the ecosystem. The upgrade would introduce a mechanism combining proof of work and proof of stake, while adding complexity and new security assumptions. ZODL founder Josh Swihart says the speed gains do not justify the risks and urges Zcash to retain its Nakamoto consensus based on proof of work. The proposal, revived by Shielded Labs in 2024, is still at the prototype stage and would need to be included in a Zcash Improvement Proposal before a governance vote. Meanwhile, the NU7 upgrade is scheduled for mainnet on November 5, targeting a threefold increase in block speed from 75 to 25 seconds under ideal conditions, although practical finality is expected to remain between 75 and 100 seconds.
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