Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#402
  1. softfork make previously valid blocks invalid, hardfork make previously invalid blocks valid.
  2. change of block size that is not agreed upon by 100% of the network
  3. Security of network decreases as miners split, chain is split.
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#403
  1. Hard Fork makes previous invalid blocks valid
    Soft Fork makes previous valid blocks invalid
  2. Democratic, clear update, new currency
  3. Splitting a chain, community, hash power split
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#404

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    Hard fork is where invalid is where previously invalid blocks becomes valid, i.e. like changing the blocks from <=1MB to <=2MB.

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    A hard fork would be done if consensus needed to change the block size from eg, <=1MB to <=2MB.

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    The harsh power would be split to expose it to security flaws.

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#405

  1. A hard fork will expand the rule set of the blockchain, while a soft fork will contract the rules of the blockchain.

  2. If the consensus rules on the network needed to be expanded. This could bring improvement in performance, a clearer set of rules, and bug fixes in the network.

  3. Risks to performing a hard fork include the possible splitting of the chain without 100% agreement across the nodes, a split community, and the splitting of hash power. The splitting of the hash power can be serious for the security of the network since it becomes easier to 51% attack.

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#406
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    The difference between the 2 is that the hardfork is to expand the network of valid blocks while a soft fork contracts the network of valid blocks.
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    A reason for a hard fork is to expand the network of possible valid blocks.
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    Some of the risks of performing a hardfork is a split chain, a split community, a split in hashpower, and reduction in security.
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#407

1 - hard forks make previous invalid blocks valid vs soft forks making previous valid blocks invalid

2 - you want a clear update to the consensus rules; you want one single chain going forward, you may want a new currency

3 - you may slpit the chain and the community, security can be reduced since hash power is being split

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#408
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    softfork- not split chain
    hardfork- split chain, increase rules
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    updated rules, expand network, increase revenue
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    divided communities
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#409
  1. A hard form makes an expansion of the rule set making previously invalid blocks valid whereas a soft fork is a contraction of the rule set that makes previously valid blocks invalid. Hard forks split the blockchain and soft forks do not split the block chain as it utilities the majority rule.
  2. Update to the network so that improvements can be made to security and functionality that can not work with the current rule set.
  3. You might split the blockchain, cause a new currency, split the community, split the hash power and thus reduce security.
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#410
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

A hardfork occurs when an update expands the rules making previously invalid blocks valid and a softfork occurs when an update contracts the rules making previously valid blocks invalid.

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

If a change happens in the consensus rules causing an expansion of these then a harfork would happen, user have de option to decide weather to update their rules and join the new branch of the blockchain or carry on with the previous and out of date rules.

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

It can split the chain thus it splits also the community and the hash power splits making the chain less secure.

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#411

  1. Hardfork is an expansion of the rules or protocol and a Softfork a contraction of the above.

  2. If there is no consenses …lets say in Block size due to transactiins being slowed down. Like Bitcoin Cash

  3. It splits the community , split in the chain, split in hash power which can lead to a less security. One can purchase more hashpower and double spend as an example.

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#412
  1. Soft forks contract the rule set. Hard forks expand the ruleset
  2. To add new consensus rules.
  3. A split in hash power,a split into two communities, and two coins.
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#413

  1. On a hardfork the chain is split and on a softfork the chain is not split.

  2. To split the chain to create a new currency.

  3. The hash power splits and that could cause a security risk of the chain.

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#414

  1. Hardfork - has an expansion of rules, so pre-existing rules are expanded upon with new rules so a clear fork is made. Some will mine to the old rule set and some will mine to the new rule set.
    Softfork - has a contraction of rules, so some previous rules no longer apply and will not be propagated. The chain does not split as the longer will survive.

  2. To create a new currency. To improve functionality like transaction speed and block size.

  3. Splitting the community, splitting the chain and lower security through the reduction in hash power.

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#415

  1. A soft fork is a contraction or tightening of the rule set (making some previously valid blocks invalid), whilst a hard fork is an expansion (making some previously invalid blocks valid).

  2. It’s democratic in the sense that it allows miners to opt out of consensus change and stay in their own chain, in order to continue mining their own blocks.

  3. It would split the hash rate(a security risk) and the community.

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#416
  1. A soft fork makes valid block invalid and a hard fork makes invalid blocks valid.
  2. A change in consensus rules.
  3. The chain is split, The hash power is split and comm is split.
#417

I really enjoy reading your homework :+1::+1::+1:

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#418

Amazing work @never_settles :+1:
Understanding how it works is 1 thing, but being able to write it in a good written understandable language, is another thing.

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#419

1- A Soft fork makes a previously valid block invalid, and a hard fork makes a previously invalid block valid.

2- a change in Consensus rules.

3- hardfork is a risk because it will split the chain, make a less secure network and i would be a split hash power.

2 Likes
#420

Thanks man! :smiley:

1 Like
#421

  1. A softfork is a change to the rules the nodes/miners follow that allows previously valid transactions to be invalid. Where as a hardfork is a rule change that allows previously invalid transactions to be valid.

  2. Hardforks could come about because the community can’t 100% agree to a change in the blockchains validation rules. The reason for a change could solve a current problem on the blockchain or let the protocol run more smoothly or any other reason to change the validation rules.

  3. When you perform a hardfork you end up with two different blockchains, this can be a risk because the hashing power is also split and can leave both blockchains vulnerable to attack.

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