Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#3632

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    Hardfork is an update where previously invalid blocks are made valid.
    Softfork is an update where previously valid blocks are made invalid.

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    If you want to change de consensus rules.

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    Hash power & community split.

1 Like
#3633

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    A SoftFork makes previously valid blocks invalid and a HardFork makes a previously invalid block valid. One contracts the rule set while the other expands the rule set .

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    You would do a HardFork in order to change the consensus. For example, maybe you are trying to update because you are scaling up by adding smart contracts, you would need to change the rule set in order to allow that, or you want to add a new coin.

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    One risk is that a HardFork would split the hash power which would make the network less secure. It would split the chain and community.

2 Likes
#3634
  1. A Hard Fork makes previous invalid block valid- A Soft Fork makes previous valid blocks invalid.
  2. If you want to increase the generell functionality of the chain
  3. The community might be splited -> reduced hashpower -> less secure network
1 Like
#3635

  1. A softfork makes previously valid blocks invalid and constrains the rules where a hardfork makes previously invalid blocks valid by expanding the rules.

  2. You would do a hardfork to expand rules, for example making a block larger (i.e. going from 1 mB blocks to 2 mB blocks).

  3. When performing a hard fork the two resulting chains can both continue, resulting in two versions of the blockchain with the same past.

1 Like
#3636

Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

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

A Hard Fork is an expasion of a rule set where previously invalid blocks become valid. A Soft Fork is a contraction of a rule set where the previous node rules fit within the new block set node rules. The new chain is smaller, yet the old chain will accept the new blocks.

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

In order to clarify differences between new rules and the old, that cannot be agreed upon.

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

Split community, Split Chain, Hash Power Split, Reduced Security.

1 Like
#3637
  1. A soft fork will make a previously valid block now invalid whereas a hard fork will make a previously invalid block valid as a result of a change to the consensus rules
  2. Some reasons to do a hard fork is that the update is clear and more democratic since everyone needs to agree to the new rules
  3. Risks of a hard fork include splitting the chain which in turn decreases the hash power which may reduce security.
1 Like
#3638

  1. A soft fork is a contraction of a rule set (Reducing the block size limit for example) whereas a hard fork is an expansion of a rule set (Increasing the block size limit)

  2. One possible reason to do a hard fork is to potentially create an improved version of a blockchain or to create a new currency --> the expansion of the rule set also encourages democracy since miners can choose which path in the fork they prefer (unlike in a soft fork where all miners will eventually succumb to the update if over 50% decide to update)

  3. When performing a hard fork, you run the risk of significantly reducing the hash power of the blockchain --> a successful hard fork will split the current hash power in half, which could prove to be detrimental to the blockchain’s security.

1 Like
#3639
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    Soft Forks make previously valid blocks invalid and hard makes invalid blocks valid
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    Change in consensus
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    During a hard fork the hash power splits into two chains which lowers security .
1 Like
#3640
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    A: A hard fork makes previous invalid blocks valid and s soft fork makes previous valid blocks invalid.
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    A: To change consensus.
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    A: Forking the chain reduces hash power and can make the network less secure and enough blocks may not be able to be mined which would also increase transaction times.
1 Like
#3641
  1. Softforks are created by updates that change consensus rules, which start to consider invalid blocks that would previously be considered valid. This is a restriction on the consensus rule and this generates an advantage to an eventual sequence version of outdated nodes blocks. To prevent this from happening, the update must be applied when it has been accepted by more than 50% of the network’s computing power.
    Hardforks are also created by updates that change consensus rules. But the new rules now start to consider blocks valid that would previously be considered invalid. It is an extension of the consensus rule and this generates an advantage to an eventual block sequence version of the updated nodes. However, this version will be incompatible with the outdated version of the consensus rules, necessarily generating a hardfork. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary that 100% of the network adopt the update.
  2. These reasons arise from the need to expand the consensus rules, such as increasing the size of blocks or authorizing the confirmation of blocks that were not acceptable before.
  3. The division of computational power is one of the risks, as part of the miners will move on to the new version of the blockchain. This reduces the security of the network, making the activity less decentralized. The weakening of the community is another risk. So also the creation of a new currency that could become more relevant than the original one.
1 Like
#3642
  1. A hard fork makes previous invalid block valid while a soft fork makes previous valid blocks invalid.
  2. I would do a hard fork to create a new currency, to fix important security risks found in older versions and to reverse malicious transactions.
  3. A hard fork can cause split in the community which can affect the network security, also increases volatility.
1 Like
#3643

My Answers:

  1. A soft fork allow previously valid blocks invalid and the upgraded nodes can still communicate with the non-upgraded nodes. Hard forks allow previously invalid blocks valid and nodes with the same version of the upgrade can only communicate with each other.

  2. To create two separate networks with different protocols and if done purposefully it allows protocol changes with everybody in agreement.

  3. It can divide the community, split the chain and potentially jeopardise the security of the network because there is now less hash power focused to a single chain.

1 Like
#3644

  1. A soft fork is a fork that makes previously valid blocks invalid. A hard fork is a fork that makes a previously invalid block valid.

  2. If the community wanted to create a new rule to allow something new in the chain, then they would make a hard fork. In addition, if there is a big difference of opinion on an update they may do a hard fork so that both parties can split.

  3. A hard fork can split the chain and community, leaving 2 different currencies. This also splits the hashing power which lowers security.

1 Like
#3645

  1. A soft fork is more of a contraction of the rule set for mining blocks, whereas a hard fork would be an expansion of a rule set for mining blocks.

  2. A hard fork might be done because a software upgrade is being done, or block size is being increased. This could be done to make an improvement.

  3. Someone the risks of a hard fork are that you split your community, you split your hash power and you split your chain. There is also a risk of having to split into two different currencies.

2 Likes
#3646

1- Hard Fork : from invalid to valid blocks (expansion)
Soft Fork : from valid to invalid bloks (contraction)

2- It is clear and democratic.

3- The chain, the community and the hash power are splited.

1 Like
#3647
  1. A softfork is a fork that does not cause splitting up of the chain in most cases, and always returns to the same chain just with different rules. It makes previously valid blocks invalid and usually imposes more restrictions. A hardfork is a fork that causes splitting up of the chain, which makes a new currency and splits up the communities. It makes previously invalid blocks valid and usually imposes less restrictions.
  2. Make a new currency usually.
  3. The chain splitting up can cause a lot of confusion. The market would be very volatile during the time of the split and the community (opinions of the miner software) would be very divided.
1 Like
#3648
  1. A hard fork makes previous invalid blocks valid again while the soft fork makes the valid blocks invalid.
  2. To change the consensus in the blockchain , to create so , a new coin with new rules.
  3. Lower the hash power , the security of the blockchain.
2 Likes
#3649
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

Soft forks make previously valid blocks invalid, whereas hard forks make previously invalid blocks valid. Plus, soft forks allow all nodes to continue the same blockchain, whereas hard forks force the nodes onto separate blockchains.

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

When some want to split the blockchain to create a different set of rules and currency.

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

It abruptly decreases the hash rate and causes an increase in time taken to mine new blocks, which also makes the network more susceptible to a 51% attack.

1 Like
#3650

  1. A Soft fork update makes some of the valid blocks invalid it is a contraction of the rules.
    A Hard fork makes invalid blocks valid it is an expansion of the rules.

  2. A hard fork may be done if the consensus rules need to be changed.

  3. hash splitting into two chains lowers security.

1 Like
#3651
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    Soft forks make previously valid blocks invalid and hard forks make invalid blocks valid.
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    To change the consensus rules.
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    There’s a risk to lose hash power and it ultimately reduces security. Another risk is splitting the community.
3 Likes