Zcash NU 7 Upgrade Countdown: About $16 Million in Dormant ZEC May Lose Transfer Channel

Zcash has confirmed the NU 7 network upgrade at block height 3,543,405, cutting block time from 75 seconds to 25 seconds and discontinuing version 4 transaction format. This removes the only exit path for roughly 12,226 ZEC, worth about $16 million, stranded in the original Sprout privacy pool. Although ZIP 2003 reserves a theoretical future withdrawal interface, engineers warn the funds are likely permanently frozen.