Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#2631

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    Hard for makes previously invalid blocks valid. Howevere, soft fork makes valid blocks invalid.

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    -Correct important security risks found in older versions of the software,
    -Add new functionality

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    -Split chain
    -Split community
    -Hash power is split into 2 chains

1 Like
#2632
  1. What is the difference between a soft-fork and a hard-fork?
    The difference is that a soft fork occurs with updates that cause a previously valid block to then become invalid.
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hard-fork?
    Some reasons why a hard fork might be done is when the update in mandatory and if you are a node is confused by the new rules and also may not yet be aware of them and is working on an invalid blockchain. If rules change to Blocks <= 2MB from <= 1MB and it comes before the update, all of the nodes will disregard the block (it’s previously invalid until it catches up with the update).
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hard-fork?
    Some of the risks may include that it can split the chain and the community. The hash power can also split causing a potentially weakened security.
1 Like
#2633
  1. Hardforks creates a new chain permanently. They expand the rules of verification. Softforks only require a majority of the hash power to update. They contract the rules of verification.
  2. To update/expand the rules that make blocks legit. Because the consensus wanted a change.
  3. Less security because each chain now has less POW/hash power. You split the community which can slow the adoption of the blockchain.
1 Like
#2634

  1. The main difference is the contraction and the expansion of the rule set. In an hard fork we have the expansion of the rule set, this means the blocks validates by the updates nodes, with new rules set, doesnt be accepted by the nodes with previous rule set. But the opposite is still possible.
    In a soft fork we have the contraction of the rule set, this means the blocks validates by the updates nodes can fit with the previous rule set and must be accepted (but not validate) by the nodes which havent update. But now the opposite is still not possible.

  2. If the network need to fix some bug, increase security or performance by changing something in the protocol, an hardfork is the most democratic and easy way to do that. Because everyone can see and choose if accept the upgrade or not. This perform a clear upgrade with awareness in the network.

  3. We have many risk, mainly we split hash power when we split the chain and this reduce the security of the network. So we have also splitted the community pushing the project, this reduce the trust. And as a result we have a new currency, this can be a risk or an opportunity.

1 Like
#2635

  1. A soft fork is when previously valid blocks becomes invalid, example the block size becomes 0,5 MB instead of 1MB ergo a contraction of the network. A Hard fork is the opposite, an expansion, example the block size goes from 1MB to 2 MB, so previously invalid blocks becomes valid.

  2. A clear update of the consensus rules that can lead to better functionalities in the network. There has been some cases where the reason for a hard fork is lead by economic incentives, because when you do a hard fork and a new currency is created, you get one of each currency.

  3. You split the community and cut the hash power in half which hurts the security of the network.

1 Like
#2636

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    A softfork is an update that makes previously valid blocks, invalid. A hardfork is an update that makes previously invalid blocks, valid.

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    To change the ruleset of the network.

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    It splits the blockchain, the community and the hashpower, reducing security in the network.

1 Like
#2637

  1. A softfork is a contraction of the rule set which makes previously valid blocks into invalid blocks. Hard Forks is an expansion of the rule set which makes previuosly invalid blocks into valid blocks.

  2. A change in the consensus.

  3. The risk is that you loose hash power which can make the block chain less secure.

1 Like
#2638

1- A Softfork is a contraction of the ruleset, the update makes previously valid blocks invalid. Hard forks are an expansion of the ruleset, previously invalid blocks become valid.
2- Perform a clear update and is more democratic
3- The risks are the hash power is split and also the community

1 Like
#2639

  1. Hard Fork Update is update that makes previously invalid blocks valid.
    Soft fork is update that makes previously valid blocks invalid.

  2. what comes to my mind is if you change rules so the block can be bigger and can contain more transactions for benefit of miners. Another one is to create new token with different rules.

  3. It will split the chain and community.

1 Like
#2640
  1. hard fork makes previously invalid blocks valid, soft fork makes previously valid blocks invalid
  2. updates can create forks if not adopted in whole due to differences of opinion resulting in moving in different directions (two chains)
  3. hardforks can contribute to temporary or ongoing instability n the community and marketplace
1 Like
#2641
  1. Hardforks split the chain i.e. they split the community and the hash power and result in two separate chains. Softforks do not split the chain and may exclude previously valid transactions from inclusion in blocks.
  2. Hardforks would be used for a significant change to the protocol like a security vulnerability.
  3. Hardforks create a new chain so they can split resources and communities to more than one chain.
1 Like
#2642
  1. A hardfork is an expansion of the rule set whereas a softfork is a contraction of the rule set. This results in hardforks creating a permanent split in the chain while softforks only create a temporary split before being resolved back into one chain.
  2. A hard fork allows both parties to continue with their desired rule set and consequently is very clear what is happening.
  3. Some of the risks revolve around splitting the hash power from the original network, so both chains after the fork will have reduced security. Another risk is splitting up the community - are the two halves of a network good enough to sum to their original value?
1 Like
#2643

  1. A softfork results from an update that makes previously valid blocks invalid. A hardfork is an update that makes previously invalid blocks valid.

  2. Hardforks need 100% of the network to update consensus rules, but if some nodes do not accept the update, then you get a hardfork. A hardfork splits the community, but it is clear and democratic.

  3. Some of the risks of performing a hardfork are that it: a) splits the chain; 2) splits the community; and 3) splits the hash power, thereby reducing security.

2 Likes
#2644
  1. What is the difference between a soft fork and a hard fork?
    Soft fork makes a previously valid block invalid, hard fork makes a previously invalid block valid.
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hard fork?
    Clear, you want to expand, some way more democratic.
  3. What are some of the risks with preforming hard fork?
    Split the community, reduce hash rate, reduce security, split the chain.
1 Like
#2645
  1. What is the difference between a soft fork and a hard fork?
  • hard fork increases the block size
  • in a hard fork the chain splitting is permanent
  1. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hard fork?
  • if you want to change the rules of a protocol significantly
  • if you want to increase a block size
  • if you want to create a new currency
  1. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
  • splitting the community
  • splitting the hash power
1 Like
#2646

  1. Hard forks make previously invalid rule sets available, while soft forks make previously valid rule sets invalid.

  2. Making changes to the network that would not work with the current rule set.

  3. Community may split to two different networks if it’s not a mutual agreement.

1 Like
#2647

  1. A softfork is when the protocol is becoming more restrictive (making previously valid blocks invalid), and may not actually result in a fork if a majority of the community take up the update. A hardfork, on the other hand, results when the protocol is becoming less restrictive (making previously invalid blocks valid). In that instance, the community needs to have 100% update in order to prevent a fork, which is very difficult to achieve.

  2. A hard fork might be necessary if the space available for blocks needed to be increased for practical reasons or adding other functionality or fixing security issues.

  3. Performing a hard fork carries the risk of splitting the community, which would split the hash strength and therefore security, of the coin. There may also be a split in the developer community, which would potentially hamper development.

1 Like
#2648

1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
A soft fork makes previously valid blocks invalid going forward. Soft forks are an example of a contraction of rule sets. A Hard fork makes previously invalid blocks valid. Hard fork are an expansion of rule set.

2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
Hard forks are a clear democratic update that provide a a change in consensus.

3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
Hard forks will split the blockchain, community, and hash power. Splitting the hash power reduces security. Moreover, it has the ability to create a new currency.

1 Like
#2649

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    A hard fork makes previously invalid block valid, so it expands the rule set.
    A soft fork makes previously valid blocks invalid, so it contracts the rule set.

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    An expansion of rules may be required to increase usability.

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    Hash function is split creating security risks.
    May split the community.

1 Like
#2650

Homework on Soft and Hard Forks

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    A softfork happen when we introduce an update of the consensus rules that makes previous valid block invalid, the hardfork happen when the consensus rules are changed in such way that previous invalid block are now valid.

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    The hardfork can happen when some nodes wants to change the consensus rules, sometimes in order to add functionality or fix important issues or just to adapt to new technologies. The hardfork is a democratic process and can be that some nodes do not want to accept the update and continue to play with the oldest rules and so there will be a split in the community.

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    Because the hardfork will split the community also the hash power will be split and so the network will be less secure.

1 Like