Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#3512
  1. A hard fork makes previusly invalid blocks valid, and a soft fork makes previusly valid blocks invalid.
  2. The reasons to do a hard fork is to update the consensus rules, and it will make a chain with the new consensus rules without fail.
  3. The risks of performing a hard fork is that the community will be split because in most cases not all 100% of the nodes updtade. Hash power will be reduced if not all the miners update, that leads to decreased security.
1 Like
#3513
  1. A softfork makes previously valid blocks invalid and a hardfork makes previously invalid blocks valid.
  2. A hardfork can expand the rules of the network and by doing so support a change in vision. A hardfork produces 2 versions of truth. The original one that was valid before the update and is still following the old rules and the new version that applies the new rules based on the update. After a hardfork you basically have 2 different blockchains.
  3. With a hardfork you obviously split the chain and also risk splitting your existing community in two parts. Also the initial hash power will be now split between 2 chains.
1 Like
#3514
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
  • HF: Makes the previously invalid blocks valid
  • SF: Makes the previously valid blocks invalid
  1. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
  • To propose a network change to the nodes that can democratically participate in it.
  1. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
  • A chain or community split, reducing the hashpower.
1 Like
#3515

  1. a hard fork makes previously invalid blocks valid. a soft fork is the opposite and makes previously valid blocks invalid.

  2. to have a new currency, to have a clear update.

  3. it will split the hash power resulting in less security. it will split the community as well.

1 Like
#3516
  1. Softfork makes invalid blocks valid and a hardfork does opposite - makes valid blocks invalid
  2. Community changes opinion on some things (consensus is changed)
  3. The risk of Hardfork is that it would create new Currency, it would split the community and Hash power is reduced, which means that the entire Network’s security is lowered.
1 Like
#3517

  1. Softfork makes previously valid blocks invalid, and hardforks viceversa

  2. Update on the ruleset which will foster more hardware innovation in the community

  3. The community will be split, some miners will go to the upgrade, other won’t.

2 Likes
#3518
  1. Soft forks make previously valid blocks invalid and hard forks make previously invalid blocks valid
  2. It’s more democratic and clearer for the nodes to understand and validate
  3. Split the community, create a new currency, divide hash power
1 Like
#3519
  1. A soft fork makes a previous valid block invalid and a Hard fork makes a previous invalid block valid.
  2. It can split into it’s own currency in a blockchain with a new consensus. These new transactions will be on it’s own chain and not interfere with the old one that continues it’s own separate Blockchain.
    3)The community breaks up and the security weakens because the spreading of Hash rates are divided into the forks.
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#3520

1.) A soft fork makes previously valid blocks invalid while a hard fork makes previously invalid blocks valid.

2.) A potential better currency and clear ruleset

3.) less secure network from a split in hash power and also a split in community.

1 Like
#3521

1)What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
A Hard Fork makes previous invalid blocks become valid while Soft Forks make previous valid blocks invalid
2)What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
clear and Diplomatic updates
3)What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
Split Chain Split community and split hashpower

1 Like
#3522
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    a softfork happens when there is no agreement on an update. a softforks make previously valid block invalid by restricting the protocol rules, ie, block size from 2Mb to 1Mb. As result the non-updated nodes will be part of the new rule, same blockchain.
    a hardfork happens when an update makes previosuly invalid blocks valid, ie, increasing the block-size from 1Mb to 2Mb. Some nodes will not receive/accept the update and they will keep appending blocks to the old chain. the updated nodes will add blocks to a new chain.
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    When you want to derive 2 chains, ie for lack of consensus on an update and when you want to create a new currency.
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    The split of the community and reduction of the hash power.
1 Like
#3523
  1. Hard fork is more democratic and includes the consensus of the whole nodes. Yet, soft fork is not democratic and just considers the majority which results in confusion and less security among nodes.
  2. Hard fork is useful when creating a new currency which includes clear updates for the whole nodes and its completely democratic. Soft fork has no chain split which keeps the whole community together.
  3. Hard fork usually caused chain split and community split. It also splits the hash power leading to less security.
1 Like
#3524

  1. Hardfork -> Makes prev. invalid blocks valid
    Softfork -> Makes prev. valid blocks invalid

  2. if consensus needed to be changed

  3. Will split the hash power into two chains, not so good for security

1 Like
#3525
  1. Soft Forks happened when you tighten the rules that Define a block and hard Forks happen when you loosen the rules that Define a block.

2 sometimes in an effort to make the blockchain more efficient you have to loosen the rules that Define a block. For example you could increase the block size which would allow for more transactions to happen in each block.
3. Hard Forks are risky because if you do not have 100% of the nodes update to the new block definition you will automatically have a fork in the blockchain. The only way this can be avoided is if 100% of the blockchain updates to the new rule set.

1 Like
#3526 
1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

SF makes previous valid block unvalid. HF makes previous uvalid block valid.

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

Concensus update
3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
Security issue

1 Like
#3527
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork? Hardforks are updates in the network that make previously invalid blocks valid. Softforks on the other hand makes previously valid blocks invalid.
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork? Several reasons could cause a fork including accidents and updates which may occur within the network.
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork? There are several risks with performing a hardfork such as a splitting of the chain as well as the community
1 Like
#3528
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

A hard fork makes previously invalid blocks valid.
A soft fork makes previously valid blocks invalid.

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

Like the new larger block size.
New coins after fork.

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

Reduced hash power.
Reduced security.
Split community.

1 Like
#3529

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    A soft fork makes previously invalid blocks valid and is a contraction of the rule set.
    A hard fork makes previously valid blocks invalid and is an expansion of the rule set.

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    For a change in the consensus

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    A hard fork splits the chain and the community, alongside wit reducing the hash rate since that splits as well.

1 Like
#3530
  1. Softforks are contractions rule sets. They make previously invalid blocks valid.
  2. To create a new coin or for example a change or expansion of the consensus rules.
  3. Hash rates decreases and the blockchain will be less safe. Also the community gets smaller in case of the split.
1 Like
#3531

  1. A softfork makes previously valid blocks invalid, where a hardfork makes previously invalid blocks valid

  2. To add a new funtionality to the current blockchain. For example, creating Bitcoin Cash from the Bitcoin blockchain

  3. A hardfork splits the hash power of the network and results in a less secure environment.

1 Like