Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#4314

What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
A hard fork is an update that makes previously invalid blocks valid. A soft fork is the opposite. It makes previously valid blocks invalid.

What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
You want to split the chain to make a new coin.

What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
Hash power split
Splits chain
Splits community

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#4315

What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
softfork where previously valid blocks are made invalid while a hardfork is where previously invlaid blocks become invalid in the expansion.
What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
clear and democratic
What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
hash power split & with split chain and split communities.

1 Like
#4316

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    The major difference between a hard fork and a soft fork is that a hard fork happens due to expansion of rule set while soft fork happens due to contraction of rule set. Another difference is that hard fork splits the hash power while soft fork does not split hash power.

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    You can do a hard fork when you want to expand the rules that makes blocks, transactions and block size valid.

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    There is split in chain and hash power, split in community

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#4317

  1. A hardfork expands the consensus rules to validate a block (makes previously unvalid blocks, valid), and because of that, requires 100% of nodes to accept and update to the new ruleset, otherwise the chain is splitted; while a softfork makes previously valid blocks, not valid, and since itā€™s reducing validation criteria that was before accepted, if thereā€™s nodes that doesnā€™t update to the new ruleset, they will continue to validate blocks based on the old rule untill the updated nodes representing 50%+ of the hash power will eventually take over the predominance of the longer-chain, and because of that, avoiding a chain split, but enforcing the new ruleset to the minority of blocks.

  2. A hardfork may be needed if the update requires an expansion of the consensus rules, to avoid the creation of a new chain (splitting the chain and community), or when the majority of nodes decides to make their choice predominant over the minority (which is questionable in terms of actual, and not enforced consensusā€¦).

  3. The split of the chain is a risk when doing a hard fork, when the changes proposed are not accepted by unanimity. That can have several consequences in different areas, from developer community, wide community/adoption and partners, to even lowering the security of the network(s).

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#4318
  1. Hardfork: Newly mined blocks donā€™t fit within the current rule set. Expansion of the rule
    set.
    Softfork: Newly mined blocks fit within the current rule set. Contraction of the rule set.
  2. Create a new currency, difference in opinion about consensus rules.
  3. Division in the community and the split in hashpower reduces security.
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#4319

A soft fork contracts the rule set, for example: we will, from now on, only accept blocks smaller than 500 KB. Every node can work with contracted rules so there will be no revolt. As soon as more than 50% of the network starts accepting and working with these rules, the rest of the network will follow.

A hard fork expands the rule set, for example: we will, from now on, accept 2 MB blocks in the chain. Nodes who donā€™t know this or who donā€™t agree to this, can not accept 2 MB blocks.

It allows you to expand the rules through a democratic process. Those who are onboard, support the new system. Those who are not, can continue in the old fashion. For miners, there is no confusion as to which version of the blockchain they are working on.

It splits the chain and the community, meaning that the original chain will be less secure and have less hash power.

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#4320
  • What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

Softfork makes what was previously valid invalid while Hardfork makes previously invalid block rules valid.

  • What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    To get a new currency; to get a new chain;

  • What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    Split community; less hashpower making the networks more vulnerable.

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#4321
  1. A Hard Fork is when a previous invalid block becomes valid and a a soft fork is when a previous valid block becomes invalid.
  2. It is a democratic why of doing a clear update to the network so everyone knows.
  3. You split the community, potentially adding a new currency. Meaning less miners mining the network and then reducing security.
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#4322

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    In soft forks only previously valid transaction blocks are invalidated, while hard forks require all nodes to upgrade and agree to the new version.

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    Creation of a new cryptocurrency.
    Change the consensus rules.

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    Community division.
    Creation of a new cryptocurrency.
    Hash power split

1 Like
#4323
  1. Soft fork is referred when previously valid blocks ara made invalid as a result of contracting the protocol rule.
  2. Expanding the consensus rule
  3. Split the chain
    Split the community
    Hash power split
1 Like
#4324

A1. Softwork contracts the rule set and have single chain moving forward. Where as hardfork expands the rule set and create two chains moving forward.

A2. It allows miners to choose the consensus rules they want to go with.

A3. The hash power is divided which weakens the chainā€™s security.

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#4325

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    Soft Fork- makes previously valid blocks invalid
    hard fork- makes previously invalid blocks valid

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    if a block needs more megabits, its a clear update on a new chain

  3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork? you can split the chain, split commish, hash power splits and some miners will leave.

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#4326

  1. Hardforks are expansive making previously invalid blocks valid.
    Soft forks are contracting making previously valid blocks invalid.

  2. Hardforks could be used to have a clear consensus rules in the network and to create a new currency

  3. Risks associated with hardforks is the reduction of the community size, reduction of the hash rate therefore reducing the security of the network.

1 Like
#4327

  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    A hard fork expands the rule set and includes previously invalid blocks as now valid. The chain splits and a new currency is issued.
    A soft fork contracts the rule set and makes previously valid blocks invalid, this does not issue a new currency.
    Hard fork needs 100% of the nodes to accept the proposed change, whereas a soft for only needs more than 50% to implement the proposed change.

  2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    The devs cant agree on a specific topic so they propose a hard fork to co-exist separately. Security updates, increase the rule set,

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

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#4328
  1. Hard fork makes previous invalid blocks valid. SF makes previous valid blocks invalid.
  2. Increase the block size. Cause: Consensous needed to be changed.
  3. Reduction of the hash power. Cause: split of the chain.
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#4329
  1. The difference between a softwork and a hardfork is that a softfork mines previously valid blocks into invalid blocks while the hardfork is the opposite.
  2. Some reasons you would do a hardfork is when the consensus needs to be adjusted.
  3. Some of the risks with performing a hardfork is it would split hash power and a less secure network.
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#4330

1 a hardfork is an update that makes previously invalid blocks valid, a softfork is an update that makes previously valid blocks invalid

2 if i need to increase the block limit size and if i need to change the consensus system

3 some cons of doing an hardfork is that you risk to split the community and to split the chain into two existent world thus losing value, hash power and and therefore security

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#4331
  1. A hard fork makes previously invalid blocks valid. A soft fork makes previously valid blocks invalid
  2. Increasing the allowable block size
  3. You split the chain, split the community, reduce hash power
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#4332
  • What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

A soft fork is a contraction of a the rule set and a hard for is an expansion of the rule set.

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

A hard fork enables you to make previously invalid blocks valid, its a clear update and is democratic.

  • What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?

You split the BC, the community, the hash pawer and creates a reduction in the security of the network.

2 Likes
#4333
  1. A soft fork is contracting the set of rules and does not necessarily split the block chain. A hard fork is expanding the set of consenus rules and splitting the block chain.
  1. If I want to create a new coin and expand the set of consensus rules.
  1. As the hash power is split, the network looses security strength.
1 Like