Zcash's NU7 upgrade to freeze about $16M in ZEC left in its Sprout pool
In brief
- Zcash's NU7 upgrade was scheduled around November 5–6, 2026, at block 3,543,405, per Crypto Briefing.
- NU7 disables version 4 transactions, the only route into the Sprout shielded pool.
- Sprout held about 12,226 ZEC, an estimated $16 million at $1,300 to $1,320 per ZEC.
- Sprout coins aren't burned or confiscated, but no recovery mechanism currently exists, the report said.
What NU7 changes
Sprout launched in 2016 as Zcash's first shielded pool (Sapling, Orchard and Ironwood are the newer ones). For several years it's been limited to withdrawals only, so funds could leave but nothing new could come in.
NU7 closes that last door.
Per Crypto Briefing's report, the upgrade disables version 4 transactions, and those are the only way to reach Sprout. Holders with coins still in the pool after the activation block will still own them. They just won't be able to move them. Any attempt to transact with Sprout funds will fail once NU7 is live, the report said.
One detail is easy to miss. The coins aren't burned, nobody's confiscating private keys, and the ZEC stays counted in total supply. There's currently no mechanism to recover those funds, though, according to the outlet, so for now they're stuck rather than gone.
How much is sitting there
Crypto Briefing put the Sprout balance at approximately 12,226 ZEC, down from roughly 22,300 ZEC in mid-October. The $16 million figure is the outlet's estimate, based on ZEC averaging $1,300 to $1,320, and it isn't a fixed loss (the dollar value moves with the price, and the coins themselves still exist).
Who's still holding coins in there? The outlet said the holders most at risk are likely early users who shielded coins years ago and haven't revisited their wallets since.
What holders were told to do
The fix is simple on paper: move Sprout funds into a supported wallet before activation. Only version 4 transactions are affected, and the Sapling, Orchard and Ironwood pools keep running normally after NU7, according to the report.
Crypto Briefing also speculated that if a large share of the remaining ZEC stays put, it could create a temporary liquidity squeeze that may affect investor sentiment. That's the outlet's view, not a measured effect, and the activation timing and pool balances cited here all come from its reporting.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't Zcash holders move ZEC out of Sprout after NU7?
NU7 disables version 4 transactions, which Crypto Briefing reported are the only way to reach the Sprout shielded pool. Once the upgrade is live, any attempt to transact with Sprout funds will fail, and no recovery mechanism currently exists, according to the report.
Are the ZEC coins in Sprout burned or lost after NU7?
No. According to Crypto Briefing, the coins aren't burned, no private keys are confiscated, and the ZEC stays counted in total supply. Holders still own the coins but can't move them, and the report said no recovery mechanism currently exists.
Does NU7 affect Zcash's Sapling, Orchard or Ironwood pools?
No. Crypto Briefing reported that only version 4 transactions are affected, and the newer Sapling, Orchard and Ironwood pools keep running normally. Holders were advised to move any Sprout funds into a supported wallet before activation.
