Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#3252

  1. A Softfork is viewed as a Contraction of the Original Rule Set which makes previously valid blocks invalid. A Hardfork, on the other hand, is an Expansionary Update of the Original ruleset which makes previously invalid blocks valid.

  2. Reasons for doing a Hardfork would be if you would want a Clear update that allows democracy for the miners.

  3. If you perform a hardfork the blockchain would be split as well as the community. One of the biggest risks here is that the computing power or the Hashrate of the network would be split, and from previous lessons, a weaker hash rate means less security for the network.

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#3253

  1. A hard fork is an expansion of the current rule set, and makes previous invalid blocks valid. A soft fork is a contaction of the current rule set, and makes previous valid blocks invalid.

  2. A split in consensus.

  3. Hash power will be split, making the network less secure.

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#3254
  1. The biggest difference between a softfork and a hardfork is the nature of update: in case of a softfork, the previously valid blocks become invalid (contraction of rule set) - and in case of hardfork the previously invalid blocks become valid (expansion of rule set).
  2. One of the reason is that a hardfork performs a clear upgrade + there is a possibilty to create new currency.
  3. In case of hardforks, the main risk is that it causes split chains and split community. Split chain lead to hash power splitting as well, which causes a serious reduction in security.
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#3255

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

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    I would do a hard fork if in my opinion we needed expand the rules of consensus in the PoW protocol in order to improve the fundamentals of the coin and if was essential to the scalability of it.

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    When you do a hard fork you split the chain in two and that can weakening the real network, because you also reduce the community and consequently the hash power that can leads to less security.

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#3256

  1. Aside from making previously invalid blocks, valid (HF) and making previously valid blocks, invalid (SF), one key difference between the two is in the implied change of the ruleset after an update wherein HF means there is an expansion while SF means there is a contraction.

  2. Valid reasons for doing a hard fork would include a software update: to add functionality or more features to the blockchain protocol, to fix security risks found in older versions and even to reverse transactions (ex: ETH blockchain reversing the hack on the DAO https://www.cryptocompare.com/coins/guides/the-dao-the-hack-the-soft-fork-and-the-hard-fork/ )

  3. A split in the chain, in the community and in the hash power.

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#3257
  1. A softfork makes previously valid blocks invalid and a hardfork makes previously invalid blocks valid.
  2. To make a consensus rule change or to increase the block size.
  3. It splits the chain and community. It also splits hashing power which makes network less secure.
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#3258

  1. Hard forks make previously invalid blocks,valid (make changes that don’t work within
    the current rule set(expansion)). Soft forks make previously valid blocks,invalid(make
    changes that can work inside current rule set(contraction)).

  2. When Consensus rules change(clear update and democratic:100% of the hash power of the network required).

  3. You risk a loss of hash power from the original chain which reduces security. Moreover it can split the community.

1 Like
#3259

1.What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
The difference between them is that HF causes the chain and the community to split creating a new currency and SF doesn’t. HF also makes previously invalid blocks valid (expansion of the rule set) and SF makes preciously valid blocks invalid. (contraction of the rule set)

2.What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
To expand the rules and improve block scalability. Also let’s part of the community to create a new chain for the new currency.

3.What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
It doesn’t only split the chain, but also the community meaning the hash power and security of the network is also reduced.

1 Like
#3260
  • 1 Simply put a hard fork is an expansion of the ruleset wich leads to blocks that were
    invalid before the change of rules beeing valid now.
    A soft fork is a contraction of the ruleset making previously valid blocks unvalid by the
    new standards
  • 2 If i got this right, the Bitcoin Cash hard fork happened because the block size was increased to 2 mB. The ruleset was loosened- hence a hard fork, right?
  • 3 In case of a chain split the hashpower is devided between the two chains which makes each chain less secure, but there are other issues associated with chain splits like the potential loss in trust by the users or rebranding issues.
1 Like
#3261
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    HardFork - Increased ruleset; the previous blocks that were invalid are now valid;
    SoftFork - Decreased ruleset; the previous blocks that were valid are now invalid;
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    Update the consensus rules;
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    Split the chain, Split the community, decreased security;
1 Like
#3262
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    hf: makes previously invalid blocks valid. sf: makes previously valid blocks invalid.
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    clear & democratic
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    it splits the chain, the community and the hash power which can lead to security risk
1 Like
#3263
  1. A softfork makes the previously valid blocks, invalid, where the hardfork makes the previously invalid blocks valid.
  2. If you want a clear new update on chain you would use a Hardfork.
  3. The chain will be split, as well as the community, the hash power is split also reducing security.
1 Like
#3264

  1. Soft fork : makes previously valid blocks invalid
    hard fork : makes invalid blocks valid.

  2. A change in the vision so that the consensus needs to be changed.

  3. The hashpower has to be divided into 2 chains, lowering the level of the security and splitting the communities

1 Like
#3265
  1. Soft fork - update that makes previously valid blocks invalid , update from 1mB in lower storage , and happend when not all the nodes are updated but we have a fork when less than 50% from hash power from nodes are updated.
    Hard fork - updates that makes previously invalid blocks valid , update from 1 mB with higher value and needs 100% of the network to update to avoid the fork.
  2. When not all the nodes are updated and on the main chain and your block it have been made before update and the nodes from main chain are allready updated so you must made a fork to start to find a new block.
  3. The Hash power will be splitted and the security obviously will be weaker.
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#3266

  1. A hard fork update makes previous invalid blocks valid where a soft fork update makes previous valid blocks invalid.

  2. A hard fork improves performance, performs a clear upgrade, more democratic, expands the rules for valid blocks.

  3. Degrades trust in the token, split community, hash power is split.

3 Likes
#3267
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
  • A softfork makes previously valid blocks invalid. A hardfork makes previously invalid blocks valid.
  1. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
  • If you wanted to increase block size or block time or other significant rule changes
  1. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
  • Splitting the community, losing hash power to the network making it less secure
1 Like
#3268
  1. A hard fork update is an expansion of the rule set and previous invalid blocks are valid where a soft fork is a contraction of the rule set and valid blocks are now invalid.
  2. A hard fork would be done if consensus needed to be changed.
  3. The risk would be split hash power and a less secure network and a split chain
1 Like
#3269

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    Hard forks make previously invalid blocks valid by expansion of the rule set, whereas soft forks are the opposite. They make previously valid blocks invalid and contract the current rule set.

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    If something needs to be changed, with concensus of course.

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    Could end up dividing the community and create a whole new split/currency

1 Like
#3270

1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
The soft fork makes previously invalid blocks valid while the hard fork - vice versa

2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
Changing the consensus, making it more clear and democratic.

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

  • splitting the chain
  • splitting the community
  • splitting the hash power (lowers security of the chain)
1 Like
#3271

  1. A soft fork makes blocks that are valid invalid. A hard fork makes blocks that are invalid valid.

-If there is not a unanimous agreement, the two factions can go their separate ways.
-A new currency is created.

-There may be instances of double spending as transactions conducted on the original chain may not show up on the new chain.
-There may be a loss of coins on the part of some if not all nodes adjust in a timely manner.

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