Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#2871
  1. While Hard forks expand blockchain consensus ruleset, Soft forks contract blockchain consensus ruleset.
  2. Some of the reasons to perform hard forks may be to introduce changes to blockchain protocol, that are aimed at increasing security and/or functionality of the protocol and chain network as a whole
  3. Hard forking may result into a chain split, which, in turn will eventually split the community. The result of the hardfork may also be splitting the network hash rate leading to lower security of the network.
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#2872

What do you mean by that? Softfork doesn’t discard the old chain, the rule is applied after some set block height, all blocks up to that height are treated by the old rules. :slight_smile:

#2873

What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

The differences between a softfork and a hardfork are:

Softfork:

  • A change to the software protocol where only previous valid transaction blocks are made invalid.
  • A softfork is 'backwards compatible' meaning old nodes will recognize the new blocks as valid.
  • Only requires a majority (51%+) of the miners upgrading to enforce the new rules.

Hardfork:

  • A change to the software protocol where previous invalid transaction blocks are made valid.
  • A hardfork requires all full nodes upgrading to enforce the new rules.

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

Some reasons why a hardfork is performed is due to dissatisfaction in the functionalities offered by existing blockchain implementations in the crypto community either by developers or the members of said community.
It could also emerge as a way to crowdsource funding for new tech projects or crypto offerings.

What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?

Some of the risks with performing a hardfork are it is non-backward compatible, meaning that once the hardfork has been executed, the old nodes will no longer recognize the new blocks as valid.
This means you will typically have two versions of the blockchain existing at the same time which leads to 'new currencies' at best, but at worst, will create division within the community and destructive competition which could lower the security of that version of the chain.

954×625

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#2874

  1. Expansion / contraction of the rule.

  2. Change in consensus rule.

  3. split chain, split community, hash power split and create a new currency.

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#2875

  1. A soft fork makes previously valid blocks, invalid. A hard fork makes previously invalid forks, valid

  2. A hard fork will clearly define the new consensus rules. A hard fork can split the chain creating a new currency.

  3. By splitting the chain, the hash rate is also split. Reducing security. A hard fork requires 100% of nodes to update to avoid a split.

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#2876

  1. A soft fork is backwards compatible, while a hard fork is not. A soft fork usually tightens rules and doesn’t split the blockchain, while a hard fork loosens rules and split the blockchain into two separate chains.

  2. A hard fork occurs when either there’s a dichotomy (difference of opinion) among developers, miners and nodes, or when a fundamental change to the system is to be implemented.

  3. It will split the community and the hash rate, which reduce security.

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#2877

1 A soft fork makes the previously valid blocks un valid, meanwhile the hard forks makes totally oposite, the previously invalid blocks are now valid.

2 An update of the consensus rules for example increasing the quantity of Bytes accepted per block.

3 It can cause a split in the blockchain, leaving the blockchain vulnerable.

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#2878
  1. A soft fork reduces block size making previously valid blocks invalid while a hard fork increases size making previously invalid blocks valid.
  2. You would create a hardfork to make a more scalable currency that can mine more transactions at once. This would be a clear change in consensus rules in which nodes can choose to update to or not.
  3. However, creating a hard fork will split the hash power meaning that there will be less nodes operating on the old and new chain than originally designated drastically decreasing security. There will also be a new currency created. This may be viewed as a pro depending which side of the consensus you are.
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#2879

  1. Hard forks expand the rules for valid blocks. Soft forks contract the rules for valid blocks.

  2. To create a clear upgrade and new consensus.

  3. It could create a fracture in the community. Chains can be split, lessening security.

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#2880
  1. A hardfork is where previously invalid blocks are now valid on the block chain. Where as a soft fork is where previously valid blocks are no longer valid on the block chain.
  2. A hardfork is a clear update of the code, that is democratic in process that allows miners to decide to accept the new update or not.
  3. You could end up with a split of the blockchain and have it branch off into other chains. There by decreasing the community.
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#2881

  1. Hard fork update makes previously invalid blocks valid, you could think of it as an expansion. The problem is that new updated nodes can only communicate with other new nodes and therefore it needs 100% of the network to update to prevent chainsplit. Soft fork is the other way around, it makes previously valid blocks invalid, you could think of it as an contraction. Here the new updated nodes can communicate with all nodes, not just the new ones so therefore there won’t be a chainsplit.

  2. You need to do a hard fork if you wanna for example increase the capacity of the block.

  3. Risks are that the chain might split which means that everything will split. The community, the coin and the hashpower will all split. Lower hashpower also means reduced security which could be a problem too.

2 Likes
#2882

  1. A hardfork adds rules to the set of rules, softfork add rules inside the existing set of rules.

  2. To create a new cryptocurrecy…

  3. Splitting the chain.

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#2883

1, softfork can make previous valid block invalid,
hardfork can make previous invalid block valid,

2, to update the system, change the consensus

3,splitting the hash power, create different forks and also divide the community

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#2884
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    A softfork is an update that makes previously valid blocks invalid (i.e. making valid block size smaller). A hardfork makes previouslu invalid blocks valid (i.e. making valid block sizes larger)
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    If you needed an update to the blockchain to change the value of what is a valid block to add to the blockchain.
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    Sliptting the chain and community up. There will also be a split in the hash power, resulting in a less secure network because there will be less nodes/miners on that particular blockchain validating Txs.
2 Likes
#2885
  1. What is the difference between a soft fork and a hard fork?
  • A soft fork is a backward compatible update or change of rules which can create confusiĂłn as previously valid blocks, become invalid. With soft forks, the chains do not split. On the other hand, a hard fork is much clearer - it is not backward compatible, so it causes a split chain, as it acts like an expansiĂłn of the “rule set” making previously invalid blocks valid.
  1. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hard fork?
  • Some of the reasons for performing a hard fork are to perform a clear upgrade, performance improvements or to fix protocol bugs.
  1. What are some of the risks with performing a hard fork?
  • The main risks of performing a hard fork are splitting into two coins as the transferring on signed transactions from one chain to another can cause a “replay attack” and a reduced level of trust in the token.
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#2886
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork? A soft fork makes previously valid blocks invalid and a hard fork makes previously updates valid.
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork? When there is a change in the consensus rules
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork? Could split the community, reduce security due to the split.
2 Likes
#2887
  1. A soft fork makes valid blocks invalid and you only need more than 50% of miners to update to accept those blocks, whereas, a hard fork makes invalid blocks valid and needs 100% of miners to update to accept those blocks.
  2. to create your own version of that coin, or because you didn’t like all of the technology behind the coin and wanted to add your own twist to it.
  3. It splits the chain
    It splits the community
    Majority doesn’t rule.
    Hash power is split
2 Likes
#2888
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    A hard fork generally results from an expansion of the rule set and leads to two separate blockchains at least in the short term. At least one of the new blockchains is not backward compatible with old protocols. Hard forks are democratic in the sense that any node operator that doesn’t want to accept the updated code can continue operating as normal albeit with a smaller user base and reduced hashing power. Networks resulting from a hard fork are also less secure in proportion to how hashing power is divided between the two chains.

A soft fork does not result in a split blockchain; all nodes update and follow the new rules. The new blockchain is not backward compatible with the old code. The user base and the network’s hashing power, and therefore its security, is not reduced.

  1. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    If a significant number of nodes disagree on what network code to use.

  2. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    Hashing power gets divided leading to an increase of a network’s vulnerability to attacks such as a 51% attack. A hard fork also risks splitting the user community, which could eventually lead to one block dying out.

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#2889

What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

  • Hard forks make previously invalid blocks valid and soft forks invalidate previously valid blocks.

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

  • Because it is clear and democratic.

What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?

  • You reduce the hashpower.
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#2890

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

  2. For a different size in blocks or maybe a different coin.

  3. Security is lowered in a hard fork due to the decrease in hash power.

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