Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#3132
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    A hard fork makes previously invalid blocks valid and a softfork makes previously valid chains invalid.
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    Hardforks have a clear, defined set of rules that all of the updated nodes follow. They are also decided on by all in the network and accepted/used by all remaining in the network.
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    Guaranteed fork of the network which splits the community and lowers security.
1 Like
#3133

A softfork is an update to the consensus rules that makes previously valid blocks invalid. A hardfork does the opposite. Hardforks are new rules that won’t work in current consensus rules while softforks will work within the current set of rules.

If you and/or a group within the community don’t agree with the consensus rules and not everyone agrees with you and/or the groups new proposed consensus rules the update would be a hardfork which splits the chain in 2 and allows one group to continue with old rules while the new rules can be followed by people that agree with it.

It can bring the network security down due hash power being split.
Maybe no one agrees with your new consensus rules, it splits the community.
May not be successful if not enough people join.

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#3134

1-HF: make previous invalid blocks valide. Soft forks make previous valid blocks invalid
2- when you want an expansion of the rule set.
3- Split chain and the community.

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#3135
  1. Soft forks contracts the rule set. hard forks expand it.
  2. Add functionality
  3. New currency, split of hash power (less security)
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#3136

  1. A softfork doesn’t split the blockchain but a hardfork will split the chain in the update isn’t propagated to 100% of the nodes.

  2. To increase the rule set for the blockchain, I.e. increase blocksize.

  3. Splits the chain, splits the community, reduced hash power which means less security.

2 Likes
#3137

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    A soft fork invalidates previous blocks and a hard fork makes previous blocks valid

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    If one doesn’t agree with the rule change

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    Split chain, split community and hash split

1 Like
#3138

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    A softfork is an update which makes previous valid blocks become invalid, a contraction of the rule set. Where as hardfork is an update which makes previous invalid blocks valid, an expansion of the rule set.

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    We would do a hard fork if we want to create a change of the network and provide a clear democratic update to all the nodes on the blockchain.

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    When performing a hardfork the risk involved is the splitting of the chain, community, the hash power (also reducing security) or even creating a new currency.

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#3139

1.Hard fork makes previously invalid blocks valid, while a soft fork makes previously valid block invalid
2. A difference or change in the vision or the consensus
3. Th hash power is split, which has its influence on the security

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#3140

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

    Hardfork (HF) - An update that makes previously invalid block, valid.
    Softfork (SF) - An update that makes previously valid blocks, invalid.

    Also, while HF expands the rule set, SF contracts the rule set.

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

    By doing a hardfork, there will be a clear set of rules to be applied by the network, leading to a democratic update. Nodes can choose if they want to follow the new rule set, or continue to work by the previous rule set in a new chain.

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

    If there’s not 100% update by the network, this will lead to split chains, that will in turn lead to a split community and hash power. This will decrease the security in all the networks.

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#3141

What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

Softfork reduces the ruleset, whereas hardfork incereases the ruleset.
What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?

You would to a hardfork because it is a clear update, if you do not update you are on another chain/currency.

What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
The security of the network is weaker, due to hashpower beeing split between the chains.

1 Like
#3142
Blockchain Updates & Forks

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    hard form makes a previously invalid block valid. the soft fork make the previously valid clock invalid.

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

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

1 Like
#3143

What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
A hardfork leads to the blockchain splitting and two different networks of nodes and miners devolving in to separate blockchains. During a split the hashrate drops for both networks.
When a softfork occurs there may be a change in the software or the consensus mechanism but this does not lead to a split in the blockchain. Segwit is a good example of this with Bitcoin.
What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
To prevent technical debt increasing or to fix a design flaw that has unaninimous support in the community.
To fix bugs or security issues

What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
The security of the network is reduced as the hashrate decreases for both blockchains.
The trust in the product will diminish as each side will claim one is superior to the other. In the long term both blockchains will likely suffer negative fallout from the fork.

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#3144
  1. A soft fork is an update that makes previosly valid blocks invalid while an hard fork is an update that makes previously invalid blocks valid.
  2. To make big changes.
  3. Splitting the community and the hash power.
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#3145

  1. HF: makes previously invalid block valid.
    SF: prev. valid block invalid.
    Forks create expansion or contraction of the rule set.

  2. Clear TX & democratic

  3. Split the chain, community and Hash Power

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#3146
  • soft forks are updates that make previously valid blocks invalid (contraction of rules)
  • hard forks are updates that make previously invalid blocks valid (expansion of rules)

  1. A hard fork clearly splits a chain, which enables nodes and miners to actively choose which chain and currency they want to support without being overruled by the majority as in a soft fork.

  2. The security of the network is decreased due to a split of hashpower and community, unless the update is implemented by 100% of the network

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#3147
  1. All forks are created because a change in the consensus is not accepted by all of the miners. Softforks refer to the changes that make previously valid blocks invalid, and hardforks refer to the changes that make previously invalid blocks valid.
  2. A democratic way of having a part of the community implement their own vision of the project.
  3. Although it seems that an owner of the pre-fork coin can now double spend (which is actually true), this dichotomized the value of the currency. Also, since the hashrate is split it also impairs the security of the network.
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#3148
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    Hard forks are expansions of the rule set and soft forks are a contraction of the rule set.
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    It is a clear and democratic update expanding the ruleset for blockchain creation.
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    The chain is split and it also splits the community and get a new currency. The hashrate splits and reduces security.
1 Like
#3149
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    SF contract the block chain, hard forks expand the block chain.
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    Change of rules for example in the size of the data of the block
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork? Updates must be in 100% of the network; otherwise the forks are created.
1 Like
#3150

What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
A hardfork involves expanding the current rule set of the blockchain (making previously invalid blocks valid), while softforks involve restricting the current ruleset (previously valid blocks become invalid)

What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
To add functionality, or change current consensus rules.

What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
Hardforks split the network and by removing a percentage of the nodes in the network (those that do not update) the hash rate of the whole network is reduced, theoretically making the network more vulnerable.

1 Like
#3151

1 What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
Hard fork expands the rules making previously invalid blokcs invalid. Soft fork restricts the rules making prerviously valid blokcs invalid.

2 What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
The change of rules might help further developing the chain.

3 What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
Reduced hash power lowers the network security.

1 Like