How network upgrades work
A network upgrade (NU) changes consensus rules at a fixed block height. Every node, miner and pool must run software that supports the upgrade before that height.
Timeline
Each upgrade has two moments:
- Release. New software is published and announced with the activation height.
- Activation. At the activation height, the new rules apply.
There are at most 72 hours between release and activation. Operators should be ready to update within that window.
Where announcements appear
Announcements are signed with the project key. See Verifying downloads.
What to do
| You run | Action |
|---|---|
| The installer miner | zecnero-miner update |
| A node | Replace zecnerod and restart. See Keeping up with upgrades. |
| A pool | Update the node, pool software and hashing code together. |
| A wallet | Update the wallet if the release notes say so. |
Past upgrades
| Upgrade | Network | Released | Activation height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NU1 | testnet | Oct 4 2026 | 16,529 | RandomX security fix, RandomX v2 work |