Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

[Curran]

1 a soft fork makes previously valid forks invalid and a hard fork makes previously valid invalid forks valid
2 if something needed to be changed, ie a change in vision or consensus.
3 with a hard fork the hash power splits and is split over two networks

[Brigadoon777]

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?
When consensus rules change- for example block size that will be accepted.

3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
Not all the nodes will update, this would create a fork splitting the hash power which reduces security. It will also split the community.

[Mikevanbike]

1. HF makes invalid blocks valid and SF makes valid blocks invalid

2. Its a clear and democratic Update. also a new currency.

3. Hash power, chain and community split.

[alh1127]

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

A soft fork is an update that makes previously valid blocks invalid, whereas a hard fork is an update that makes previously invalid blocks valid.

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

It is a clear update. If you don’t update you will be on a previous chain. If you update you will be on the new chain. It is also considered a democratic update by many.

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

It’s almost guaranteed the chain will split and splitting the chain will split the community. Also a hash power split reduces security.

[JohanZ]

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

2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
   to expand the rule set for different reasons. It is considered clear and more democratic than a soft fork.

3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
   split chain, split community and split hash power which reduces security.

[Arty]

1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
   Soft fork makes valid blocks unvalid
   Hard fork makes invalid blocks valid

2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
   For a radically changes of the rules, example blocksize, currency.
   Performing a clear update, improvements

3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
   split of the community, currency and degredating trust in the token

[HTBH]

1. Hardfork Update that makes previously invalid blocks valid
   soft fork Update that makes previous valid blocks invalid

2. its a clear and democratic update

3 split chain and community and hash power which reduces security

[theaussie86]

1. Hard fork is an Expansion of the Consensus rules.

2. Increased the size of a block.

3. It can create a new version of the chain that is not accepted by nodes still Wirkung with the old set of rules.

[CryptoLilies]

What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

1. SOFTFORK - an update that makes previously valid blocks invalid
2. HARDFORK – an update that makes previously invalid blocks valid

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

1. To increase the byte size of a block

What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?

1. Split chain
2. Split community
3. Split hash power
4. Creation of crypto currency

[NicPlankton]

1. A soft fork contracts the rule set and makes valid blocks into invalid blocks from the update and on, while the hard fork expands the rule set and makes invalid blocks into valid blocks from the update and on.
2. A change in consensus that expand rule set, which it might allow more blocks to be created, also it shows democracy in the comm.
3. Dividing the blockchain in different ones, this can let only a smaller number of validators and create a bigger risk in the security.

[angelmanuel]

1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
   A softfork occurs when an update makes previously valid blocks invalid and a hardfork when an update makes previously invalid blocks valid.
2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
   A hardfork is used to expand the consensus rules. i.e. change block size from 1mB-> 2mB
3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
   A hardfork would split the blockchain leading to splitting of miners and hash power until 100% of the network updates.

[palcocer]

1. Hard fork makes previously invalid blocks valid. Soft fork makes previously valid blocks invalid.
2. Hard forks are clear and democratic.
3. Risks of a hard fork are split chains, split communities and hash power splits.

[AndrewM]

1. A hard fork makes invalid blocks valid (expansion) while a soft fork makes valid blocks invalid (contraction).
2. A change in consensus
3. Loss of security and hash power, divides the chain.

[TimInnes]

1. A hard fork is expanding the requirement of a new block making previously invalid blocks valid whereas a soft fork is reducing the parameters of a new block therefore making a previously valid block invalid,

2. Create a new currency, divide in the communities vision of the original blockchain.

3. Splitting the hash power therefore lowering the security of the network.

[oconnortj]

1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
   A hard fork is regarded as expansion making previously non valid blocks valid and a soft fork is regarded as contraction making previously valid blocks invalid

2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
   An example would be increasing the size of the block say from 1mb to 2 mb - expanding the consensus rules, creating a more democratic community.

3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
   A change in the hash power, thus decreasing security
   A split in community
   Split in Chain

[NumaMisfit]

1. Soft fork is contraction of rules, what makes previously valid blocks invalid.
   Hard fork is expansion of rules, what makes previously invalid blocks valid.

2. Reason could be change of size of the block from 1mb to 2mb. Or any other major change in the rules of blockchain.

3. Split of community. New currency establishment. Split in chain. Security risks.

[Jens]

1. Hardfork splits in 2 chains, softfork stays 1 chain.
   Hardfork expand the rules for a valid block. A softfork reduces it.
2. To perform improvement to the protocol. (ETH 2.0, EIPs, governance,…)
3. Community splits and token splits if disagreement. Buggs

[loudogg]

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

A softfork contracts the consensus ruleset, making previously valid blocks invalid. A hard fork expands the consensus rule set, making previously invalid blocks valid.

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

To increase the acceptable block size, to expand the consensus rule set, to keep things clear and democratic.

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

Splitting the blockchain, the hash power and the community.

[Tito_RuizG]

1. Soft Fork: Update that makes previously valid blocks, invalid! Contraction
   Hard Forks: Update that makes previously invalid blocks, valid! Expansion

2. Because you think some changes may be good. It’s better for the blockchain. Want to have a new currency.

3. Split chain. Split community. Less secure system. Hash Power reduced.

[derok]

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

A hardfork makes previously invalid blocks valid while a softfork makes previously valid blocks invalid.

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

The update is very clear, if you do not update you will be on the old chain and if you do update you will be on the new chain.

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

You will definitely split the chain with a hardfork, and there is also a possibility you could split the community and create a brand-new coin.