Gemini Switches Zcash Software Ahead of 25-Second Blocks, Signaling Winklevoss Ecosystem Expansion

Crypto exchange Gemini (GEMI) has officially switched the software running its Zcash system from Zebra to Zakura, a strategic move to prepare for the block time acceleration from 75 seconds to 25 seconds in the network upgrade dubbed NU7. The decision was announced on Tuesday and signals infrastructure readiness for a threefold surge in transaction volume.

According to published tests, Zakura can catch up with the latest block in about six hours, far faster than Zebra, which takes nearly 24 hours. Zakura's developers even recorded a time of 4 hours 20 minutes in a separate test, while Zebra needed nearly 21 hours. In addition, a recent copy of the network data is available that allows a replacement computer to come online without downloading the Zcash history from scratch, at a speed about 680 times faster than standard synchronization.

Gemini is controlled by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, whose interest in Zcash goes beyond the exchange. Their investment firm led a US$59 million funding round for Cypherpunk Technologies, a public company that holds and mines ZEC. In August, a Winklevoss affiliate sold a Zcash mining fleet worth US$33 million to Cypherpunk, and Cypherpunk stated that Gemini handles trading and custody for their ZEC holdings. The move strengthens vertical integration from mining to market liquidity.

Every exchange that lists a cryptocurrency runs its own computers to follow the network. Sending ZEC to Gemini does not immediately make it tradable, because the computer must find the payment on Zcash and verify it before crediting the customer's account. If the computer gets stuck or falls behind, coins can arrive while the customer's balance remains empty, and exchanges usually suspend deposits and withdrawals until the system recovers. The length of the pause depends heavily on how fast the network copy can be rebuilt.

"A threefold block acceleration demands more responsive infrastructure. Gemini's readiness with Zakura shows anticipation of a potential surge in network load," said a blockchain infrastructure analyst who did not wish to be named.

The NU7 upgrade is scheduled to reach the Zcash testnet on October 6, and developers will decide on mainnet activation on November 5 after reviewing the results. Gemini has not published performance tests under the faster NU7 block schedule. This uncertainty is a concern for market participants, given that Zcash is a privacy asset with significant market capitalization and liquidity that is sensitive to technical disruptions.

For Indonesia, this development affects local crypto investors who access ZEC through global exchanges. If NU7 succeeds, ZEC transactions become faster and cheaper, which could boost adoption among users who prioritize privacy. However, block acceleration also demands that domestic exchanges be ready to manage operational risk. The Financial Services Authority (OJK), as the crypto asset regulator in Indonesia, needs to ensure that local platforms have adequate recovery procedures to face protocol changes like this.

Looking ahead, will Gemini release NU7 test results before mainnet activation? And how are other exchanges, including those operating in Indonesia, preparing for the era of 25-second blocks? The answers will shape the ZEC trading landscape in the coming months.