Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#4194

1.Hark fork update = Expansion of consensus rules set => an update that makes previously invalid blocks valid
Soft fork update = Contraction of consensus rules set => an update that makes previously valid blocks invalid.
2. Split among communities, democratic votes.
3. Security risk for the whole network as the hashing power securing it will be divided.

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#4195

  1. A soft fork makes valid blocks invalid and a hardfork makes invalid blocks valid.

  2. A hardfork is more democratic since it requires 100% adoption. You don’t have to update for a hard fork if you don’t want to.

  3. A hardfork will undoubtedly split the blockchain, and there is no guarantee that there will be 100% adoption.

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#4196

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

  • Soft fork: update that makes a previous valid transaction invalid.
  • Hard fork: update that makes a previous invalid transaction valid.

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

  • Change in the consensus rules.

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

  • Hash power split, which could result in security risks.
  • Community split.
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#4197

1- Hard fork is an update that makes previous invalid blocks valid.
Soft Fork is an update that makes previous valid blocks invalid.

2- Change in consensus is needed.

3- Split hash power and split chain.

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#4198

  1. hardfork is the expansion of consensus rules, which makes the previously invalid blocks valid, but requires the entire network to update the rules and split the community. softfork is the contraction of consensus rules, which makes the previously valid block invalid, and maintains no fork when more than 50% nodes update the rules, but each node has to obey the majority

  2. it is clear for each node in the network to understand the new rule and decide which split chain they want to join with, when they believe the updated rule is more reasonable

  3. the community and the overall hashrate will be split

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#4199

1 A hard fork is an expansion of the rule set and previously invalid blocks are valid. A soft fork is a contraction of the rule set and valid blocks are now invalid.
2 A hard fork is done if consensus needs to be changed.
3 A less secure network due to split hash power and a split chain therefore.

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#4200

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    in a hard fork, previously invalid blocks become valid. In a soft fork, previously valid blocks become valid.

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

to create a new chain, create a new coin, have a clear update

  1. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    splitting the community, decreased hash power therefore less security
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#4201

1.) The difference between a softfork and a hardfork is that a hardfork is a fully enforced protocol change that isn’t adaptable with the older version. A softfork is a minor software update where old nodes can still accept new blocks and obtain compatibility.
2.) Some of the reasons one would do a hardfork is to make a complete new consensus change to a network, where all nodes must comply.
3.) Some of the risks with performing a hardfork is there could be a split community and a reduction in hash power.

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#4202

  1. Regardless of the number or percentage of nodes that update with a hard fork (unless there is the impossible 100% compliance), a split will both occur and remain on the network.
    With a hard fork, the network will never reconcile as it eventually would with a soft fork.
    A hard fork is the result of a protocol update which expands the rules. A soft fork is the result of a restrictive update to the protocol.

  2. Certain advantages may flow from a hard fork:

  • If a node does not update, the node will participate on the previously defined/old chain, only. Updates mean new chain participation, leaving the old chain for good.
  • A choice to update or not to update is allowed; it is more democratic.
  1. Although not entirely compromised, security will be lessened by the division of hash power from a hard fork.
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#4203

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

A Hard fork : A update that make previously invalid blocks valid, or an “expansion” of the ruleset.

Example : The Bitcoin cash hard fork -

The aim for Bitcoin cash was to increase the block size limit in hopes to scale the transaction network throughput. Since they wanted to increase the block size limit, and therefore making all previously invalid (to big) blocks valid by the new rules.

This caused a split between the original Bitcoin and Bitcoin cash. Since the original bitcoin nodes still only accepted the same size blocks, and Bitcoin cash can have such small blocks. The chains remain split and each chain performs it’s own POW. This results in 2 separate currency’s

A Soft fork : A update that makes previously valid blocks invalid, or an “contraction” of the ruleset.

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

Any update one wishes to do that would “loosen” or “expand” the current ruleset. Depending on what the update is trying to achieve, there may be no other option then to do a hard fork or remain on the current version.

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

A hard fork splits the chain if participants disagree over which is the “true” chain. This splits the community and also creates a new currency.

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#4204
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    The difference is in what it will do to the previous block after the update. Hardfolk will make invalid block valis, while Softfork will make the valid block invalid.
  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    It is easier to understand for beginners and since hardfork will require users to update process manually you can use this process if you want to get some sort of statistics, for example you want to know how fast minors will run the update and you can call them active miners versus those that will not run the update and you can call them more passive users. Further you could use this statistics maybe for pricing or maybe to understand if the amount of minors needing more mb’s has increased or decreased compare to 2 years before etc.
  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    That two different blocks will have to keep on running for some time and communication will be needed for each of them.
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#4205
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    The difference between a softfork and a hardfork is that a softfork is an update that makes previously valid blocks unvalid and a hardfork is an update that makes previously invalid blocks valid.

2.What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
Add features and functionalities that can´t be done with the current consensus.

  1. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    Some risks with performing a hardfork is that the chain, community and hash power will split between the 2 chains, weakening the security and the strength of the protocol.
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#4206
  1. With Hard Fork previously invalid blocks are valid. With Soft Fork previously valid blocks are invalid.
  2. Change in consensus.
  3. If the nodes don’t update the community is splitting and they are working with two chains meaning that also security is lowering because the hash rate is split.
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#4207
  1. soft fork makes previously invalid blocks valid and hard is vise versa.
  2. To have your own chain with separate rules.
    3.splitting the community
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#4208
  1. A softfork is a contraction of the rule set nodes use to determine if a block is valid (previously valid blocks would be invalid under new rule set) while a hardfork is an expansion of the rule set (previously invalid blocks would be valid under new rule set)
  2. If a group of people in the community agree that the rules for determining if a block are valid are too restrictive or out of date. If people want to create a new currency from an existing currency. The community disagrees about how blocks should be validated
  3. A miner could choose the chain that ends up being less profitable than the other chain. You reduce the hash power so security decreases. The community is split.
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#4209
  1. A hard fork is a expansion of the rules of a valid blockchain, a soft fork is a contraction of the rules of a valid blockchain
    2.Hardfork reasons, performance upgrades and improvements and expansions of the rules for valid blocks
    3.Coin splitting, less trust in the token and community,replay attacks,hash split so less secure networks
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#4210
  • What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    expansion/contraction of rule set. Hard fork: prev.invalid blocks valid - expansion of rule set. Soft fork: prev.valid blocks invalid - contraction of rule set.
  • What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    clear update (everyone has to update to have valid blocks added into a chain), democratic update (all nodes have to update to have valid blocks).
  • What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    split of chain, split of community, split of hash power (security).
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#4211

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.

  • What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    To provide a major upgrade to the network
    To close a security flaw
    To create a new currency
  • What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    Loss of community
    Loss of hash power
    Confusion
    Loss of money (currency)
    Threat of a double-spending problem
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#4212

  1. Softfork happens when updates makes previously valid blocks invalid. On the other hand, hardfork happens when updates makes previously invalid blocks valid.

  2. For the expansion of rule set.

  3. Some of the risks when performing hardforks are:

  • It splits the chain
  • It splits the community
  • And it splits the hash power
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#4213

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork? A hardfork is an expansion of the consensus rule set and a softfork, is a contraction of the rule set.

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork? To add power and increase size of the network, an expansion of consensus rule set.

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork? Splitting the chain as well as the community. The resulting, new currency, may be seen as a drawback to some.

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