Zcash cofounder Eli Ben-Sasson says privacy and post-quantum security could eventually become baseline requirements across the crypto industry, provided both are easy to use and low cost. Post-quantum cryptography is being explored to protect digital systems against sufficiently powerful quantum computers that could threaten some cryptographic schemes now in use. Ben-Sasson, who is also a cofounder of StarkWare, has recently emphasized both issues. In August, StarkWare helped mine the first quantum-safe Bitcoin transaction on the Bitcoin mainnet, demonstrating that it held up against an adversary operating a working quantum computer. Ben-Sasson has separately highlighted privacy's importance for DeFi (decentralized finance). He says the move toward quantum readiness requires assessing whether a chain's cryptography can withstand a quantum computer and what users must do when a network migrates to full post-quantum security. Separately, shielded Zcash activity reached a four-year high, with 62,379 transactions sent during the past week, the highest weekly total since 2022. Developers are targeting Nov. 5 for activation of NU7, with testnet activation scheduled for October 6. The upgrade is designed to reduce block spacing from 75 seconds to 25 seconds and includes ZIP-218, the disabling of v4 transactions, and NSM integration through ZIP-234 (alt) and ZIP-235. Following poll results, the upgrade will preserve halvings, with reintroduction beginning in February 2031. Zcash was trading at $15.96, up 5.76% over 24 hours and 27% over the week at the time of writing.