Zcash’s November upgrade could freeze funds in legacy Sprout pool
Reported by Cointelegraph · AI-assisted summary by ChikoCorp AI News Desk
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Summary
Zcash’s upcoming NU7 upgrade planned for November would stop supporting the legacy Sprout shielded pool transaction format, rendering any ZEC held there unspendable after the update. The upgrade, based on Zcash Improvement Proposal-2003, does not destroy Sprout funds but warns holders they may permanently lose access. Community members and Zcash co-founder Zooko Wilcox have publicly urged users to move funds from Sprout wallets before the upgrade.
Why it matters
The source indicates this matters because users with ZEC in the legacy Sprout pool could lose the ability to spend those funds permanently after NU7 activates. This could impact holders who are unaware their coins are in the Sprout pool and highlight operational risks tied to legacy protocols. The source does not elaborate on broader market or policy implications.
Key context
NU7 would end acceptance of the old transaction format required to spend Sprout pool funds. The upgrade is set for mainnet activation on or about November 5, with a testnet activation on October 6. It also includes technical changes such as reducing Zcash’s target block time from 75 to 25 seconds and adjustments to issuance that keep the halving schedule intact. Users should examine wallets containing either Sprout or transparent ZEC.
Key numbers and entities
Zcash Improvement Proposal-2003, NU7 upgrade, scheduled testnet activation October 6, planned mainnet activation November 5. Zcash co-founder Zooko Wilcox. ZEC price was $1,627.82 at time of writing, up 8% in 24 hours and nearly 40% over one week. User “vaspholdings” on Zcash Community Forum is cited.
What remains unclear
Whether Zcash developers will provide any recovery mechanism for unspendable Sprout funds after the upgrade is uncertain. The source does not specify how many users or what volume of ZEC is affected. It also does not clarify the broader ecosystem impact or user outreach plans beyond community warnings.