Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#4182
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

A hard fork makes previously invalid blocks valid (expansive).
A soft for makes previously valid blocks invalid (restrictive)

  1. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?

It’s clear and it’s democratic.

  1. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?

A split in hash power would resultin a less secure network

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#4183

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    Hardfork is expansive therefore previously invalid blocks become valid
    Soft fork is contractive therefore previously valid blocks become invalid

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    A change in the consensus mechanism which could improve the blockchain network

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?

  • Community is split
  • You need more than 50% of people agreeing on the update
  • Chain could end up splitting and that leads to lower security on the blockchain.
1 Like
#4184

  1. A soft fork makes valid transactions invalid whereas a hard fork makes invalid transactions valid.

  2. You might want to do a hard fork if there was a need to change the way the consensus operated.

  3. It is bad for security due to it reducing the hash power of the entire network.

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#4185

Q1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
A. In blockchain, a ‘fork’ is an update of the protocol or rule set that governs processing of blocks. A ‘hard’ fork makes previously invalid blocks valid under the update, expanding the protocol and causing a split in the blockchain, whereas a ‘soft’ fork makes previously valid blocks invalid, contracting the protocol and retaining the blockchain by forcing all nodes to eventually accept the new rule set.

Q2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
A. Although causing a definite split, a hardfork update is clear in the sense that the people involved know whether they are part of the old or new protocol, giving them a ‘democratic’ choice of blockchain. This can be preferable to a softfork, which can create confusion where blocks are able to be validated by nodes that might not understand the new protocol and which may not have chosen it into the first place.

Q3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
A. Hardforks split the blockchain, damaging the community built around it. The hash power is also reduced, impairing the security of the network. It also creates a new cryptocurrency, which could be beneficial, but carries its own questions of utility.

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#4186

1 - Hard fork is divided and soft fork is not divided
2 - When the changes are out of ranges used in the actuality
3 - The community can be divided because can has a differents perspective :anguished:

1 Like
#4187
  1. Hard Forks make previously invalid blocks valid. Soft forks makes previously valid blocks invalid.
    2.to do an update on the protocol
    3.hash power split
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#4188

1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
A soft fork is temporary as after some time the majority which will have the same version of the chain will propagate its version to to minority as they’ll choose the longest chain. By definition it’s when an update that makes some previously valid blocks invalid -> more restrictive -> concentrate, narrows done options (example : we lower the target to mine a block).
A hard fork is splits the chain in 2 and both versions will co-exist. It will also therefore split the hash power in between them as some nodes will prefer to mine one or the other new chain. By definition, it’s when an update makes some previously valid blocks valid -> less restrictive -> expands acceptable options.
2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
When we want to update some core rules but cannot be mandatory. That would split the community in 2 depending on who accepts the update or not.
3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
It will split the community in 2, therefore it will also split the has power in 2, which means that it will reduce the security as the 51% required to hack it will become more atteignable.
A hard fork creates a new currency. We can potentially lose some funds if a currency is not recognized in one of the chain of the split for example.

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#4189
  1. Expansion(HF)/ Contraction(SF) of the rule set.
  2. They happen ehe the Nodes are updating at seperate times.
  3. Hash power split.
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#4190
  1. What is the difference between a soft fork and a hard fork? Hard fork updates make previously invalid rules/blocks valid (EXPANSION OF RULE SET). Soft Fork updates make previously valid rules/blocks invalid (CONTRACTION OF RULE SET)
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hard fork? To increase the number of transactions in a block. To increase the size of a block from 1mB to 2mB
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hard fork? Hash power splits which reduces security. Can split the community and you have a split chain.
1 Like
#4191
  1. A hardfork is an update that makes previous invalid blocks valid because of a chain split.
    and a softfork is an update that makes previously valid blocks invalid.
  2. A change in consensus was needed.
  3. The hash power is split and will reduce security
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#4192

The difference between a hard and soft fork is as follows: When an update makes previously invalid blocks valid, a hard fork is inevitably created. When an update makes previously valid blocks invalid, a soft fork is often created.

With a hard fork being the result of an expansion of rules, miners would have a better chance of putting their block on the blockchain due to more flexibility of what blocks can be put on. Additionally, new currencies can be created because of these updates, which brings more financial opportunities to the community. Lastly, if an update will bring a potential benefit to the community based on an individual or group’s perspective in general, that would also be another reason to create a hard fork.

Hard forks can cause hash power splits, which decreases the security of the blockchain. They can also cause splits in the community and the chain itself.

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#4193
  1. Soft forks is an update that makes previously valid blocks invalid and hard forks make previously invalid blocks valid.
  2. Hard fork is clear and democratic.
  3. it can Split the chain, the community and hash power split.
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#4194

1.Hark fork update = Expansion of consensus rules set => an update that makes previously invalid blocks valid
Soft fork update = Contraction of consensus rules set => an update that makes previously valid blocks invalid.
2. Split among communities, democratic votes.
3. Security risk for the whole network as the hashing power securing it will be divided.

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#4195

  1. A soft fork makes valid blocks invalid and a hardfork makes invalid blocks valid.

  2. A hardfork is more democratic since it requires 100% adoption. You don’t have to update for a hard fork if you don’t want to.

  3. A hardfork will undoubtedly split the blockchain, and there is no guarantee that there will be 100% adoption.

1 Like
#4196

1. What is the difference between a soft fork and a hard fork?

  • Soft fork: update that makes a previous valid transaction invalid.
  • Hard fork: update that makes a previous invalid transaction valid.

2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hard fork?

  • Change in the consensus rules.

3. What are some of the risks with performing a hard fork?

  • Hash power split, which could result in security risks.
  • Community split.
1 Like
#4197

1- Hard fork is an update that makes previous invalid blocks valid.
Soft Fork is an update that makes previous valid blocks invalid.

2- Change in consensus is needed.

3- Split hash power and split chain.

1 Like
#4198

  1. hardfork is the expansion of consensus rules, which makes the previously invalid blocks valid, but requires the entire network to update the rules and split the community. softfork is the contraction of consensus rules, which makes the previously valid block invalid, and maintains no fork when more than 50% nodes update the rules, but each node has to obey the majority

  2. it is clear for each node in the network to understand the new rule and decide which split chain they want to join with, when they believe the updated rule is more reasonable

  3. the community and the overall hashrate will be split

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#4199

1 A hard fork is an expansion of the rule set and previously invalid blocks are valid. A soft fork is a contraction of the rule set and valid blocks are now invalid.
2 A hard fork is done if consensus needs to be changed.
3 A less secure network due to split hash power and a split chain therefore.

1 Like
#4200

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    in a hard fork, previously invalid blocks become valid. In a soft fork, previously valid blocks become valid.

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?

to create a new chain, create a new coin, have a clear update

  1. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    splitting the community, decreased hash power therefore less security
1 Like
#4201

1.) The difference between a softfork and a hardfork is that a hardfork is a fully enforced protocol change that isn’t adaptable with the older version. A softfork is a minor software update where old nodes can still accept new blocks and obtain compatibility.
2.) Some of the reasons one would do a hardfork is to make a complete new consensus change to a network, where all nodes must comply.
3.) Some of the risks with performing a hardfork is there could be a split community and a reduction in hash power.

1 Like