Zcash Jumps 62% to $880 as Snapshot Looms for Vote on Issuance Overhaul and Faster Blocks

Zcash holders have until today's on-chain snapshot to qualify for a vote on sweeping proposals that could alter ZEC's issuance schedule and accelerate block production, with the token trading near its highest levels since 2018. CryptoSlate data shows ZEC rose roughly 62% over the past week, peaking around $880 in the latest rally before easing back to about $830 at the time of publication. The price move has sharpened focus on a governance process that could reshape how new ZEC enters circulation and how quickly the network confirms blocks. According to terms published by vote organizers Valar Group and Project Tachyon, eligibility requires holders to have spendable shielded ZEC in Ironwood when the blockchain reaches block 3,459,350. The snapshot is expected around 19:00 UTC on Aug. 24, though eligibility is determined by block height rather than the clock. Funds can be moved immediately afterward. Voting is set to open Aug. 25 and run through Sept. 14 at 19:00 UTC. Organizers said they will treat the outcome as representative of coinholders if at least 1 million ZEC participates in at least one of the five questions, including abstentions. Key items: issuance reform and faster blocks The most consequential questions target Zcash's issuance model and block timing. One proposal would replace the network's periodic halvings with a gradual issuance curve and recycle ZEC removed from circulation via the Network Sustainability Mechanism back into future block rewards. The proposal would not change Zcash's total supply cap. Alternatives include keeping halvings in place or leaving issuance smoothing out of NU7. A separate question asks when ZEC taken out of circulation should start returning through block rewards, with options including as soon as possible, February 2027, or February 2031. Holders will also vote on reducing Zcash's target block time from 75 seconds to 25 seconds under ZIP 218, effectively tripling the targeted number of blocks produced per day while adjusting rewards so long-run issuance remains broadly unchanged. The remaining questions cover when to disable transactions tied to the deprecated Sprout pool, and whether NU7 should ship without features that miss a Sept. 30 implementation deadline or be delayed until all approved changes are ready. The poll is a signaling vote rather than an automatic protocol change. Even if supported, proposals would still require development and deployment before becoming Zcash consensus rules. With ZEC near multiyear highs, today's snapshot is the immediate cutoff for holders seeking a say in potential changes to Zcash's monetary schedule and network performance.