NU7 Coinholder Vote
The NU7 coinholder vote lets eligible ZEC holders vote on the scope of the next Zcash network upgrade.
To be eligible, make sure your ZEC is shielded in Ironwood before the snapshot at Mainnet block 3,459,350. Read each question carefully, then vote for the options that reflect your view from a supported wallet. Shielded voting is now supported by Keystone hardware wallets and future shielded hardware wallets.
Important dates
- SnapshotMainnet block
3,459,350· Expected around - Opening25 August 2026
- ClosingVoting closes
The snapshot at Mainnet block 3,459,350 sets your voting eligibility. Your ZEC must be spendable, shielded, and in Ironwood at that point. You may move it after the snapshot. The displayed snapshot time is a live estimate from the latest mainnet tip; the block height is authoritative.
Get your ZEC ready
Moving ZEC to Ironwood is the first step to becoming eligible to vote.
- If your ZEC is in Orchard, Sapling, or Sprout, migrate it to Ironwood.
- If you hold transparent ZEC, shield it in Ironwood.
- If your ZEC is on an exchange or another network, move it to a self-custody wallet and shield it in Ironwood.
How to vote
- Before the snapshot at Mainnet block 3,459,350, make sure eligible ZEC is in Ironwood.
- When voting is open, use a supported wallet such as Vizor, Zodl, or Zkool.
- Read every question, choose an answer or abstain, then review and submit your choices. Keystone hardware wallets are supported.
Supported wallets
ZIP 318 enables privacy-preserving migration. All three wallets support Ironwood and voting.
Hardware wallets
Yes. Keystone is supported. You can vote through a compatible wallet while your Keystone continues to control the keys that secure your ZEC. You do not need to move your funds out of Keystone to vote. Upcoming shielded hardware wallets should work automatically.
Privacy and safety
Voting uses homomorphic encryption, which keeps the contents of your vote private from validators while they process the vote. Your individual amount and choices remain encrypted; only the total ZEC vote for each answer is revealed when voting ends. A wallet or service provider may still see your IP address. Tor, Nym, or a VPN can reduce that network-level exposure.
What the vote asks about
For the full questions and more information, read the official NU7 coinholder vote announcement.
- The pace at which new ZEC enters circulation.
- When ZEC removed from circulation should return to future block rewards.
- When to disable older Sprout transactions.
- Whether to shorten the time between blocks.
- Whether NU7 should ship without features that are not ready, or wait for all approved features.
Best practices
- Do not wait until the last minute to move eligible ZEC to Ironwood.
- Never share your seed phrase, private key, or hardware-wallet recovery phrase with anyone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I vote with ZEC outside Ironwood?
No. Only spendable shielded ZEC in Ironwood at the snapshot is eligible for this vote.
Can I move my ZEC after the snapshot?
Yes. The snapshot fixes eligibility, and you may move funds immediately afterward.
Can validators see my ZEC amount or individual vote?
No. Votes use homomorphic encryption, so your amount and choices stay encrypted while validators process the vote. Validators cannot see an individual ballot or the amount of ZEC behind it. When voting ends, they can recover only the total ZEC vote for each answer across all voters. Each vote is also split into 16 unlinkable ballots to protect balance privacy.
Can I use a Keystone hardware wallet?
Yes. Keystone is supported with compatible voting wallets. You can vote while Keystone continues to control the keys that secure your ZEC; your funds do not need to leave Keystone.
Is voting private on the network?
The vote contents are private from validators. Your network connection can still expose an IP address to a wallet service or provider; use Tor, Nym, or a VPN if you want to reduce that exposure.
Where can I find the exact questions and updates?
Read the official NU7 coinholder vote announcement. It is the source of truth for the final ballot wording, dates, and updates.