Updates & Forks - Discussion

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#244

Great. Thank you a lot!
Have a nice day!

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#245

In this topic we discuss forks of which there are 2 types : Hard forks and Soft forks
A Hard forks will make a previously invalid block now valid and is caused by updates to the rule sets, whereas soft forks will make previously valid blocks invalid.We can think of it as Expansion/contraction of rule sets. The Hard fork leads to a split in the chain a split in the community and is clear and democratic. Whereas in the soft fork there is no split in the chain or the community and is generally preferred. to conclude : soft fork upgrade >50% hash power = no fork , < 50% 50% hash power = fork.

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#246

Videos from “Overview of Forks” and onward don’t start. Am I the only one having the issue?

Update: I cannot watch the following videos, “Overview of Forks”, “Accidental Forks”, “Update and Forks”, “Pros & Cons with Soft and Hard Forks”

#247

Hi @Taku17835. Sorry you’re having issues. I tried watching the videos and they work for me. Can you try again?

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#248

@Alko89 All good now. Thank you.

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#249

forks are real in the blockchain

#250

Hello Phillip
Enjoying your class. My question is about hard forks. Say you have a hard fork due to increase in size of block and as you said the new rule does not propagate to all the nodes on the network. Do both the miners still have to complete the puzzle at the same time to cause a fork? Because it seems that would be the only way still to cause a fork because whoever finishes the puzzle first using the new rule or the old rule it would just be added to the straight chain and no fork. Is this correct?

#251

Before the fork occurs the miner must update its software (or keep the old version). At a specific block height that is usually hardcoded in the program the updated miner will start mining a block with the new rule and the old miner will continue mining by the old rule. From that point on both miners will mine blocks on their own chain. :slight_smile:

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#252

scammers usually pretend to be buyers and send a btc transaction with such low fee as it never gets confirmed and then rush the seller to send them the item , while they show an unconfirmed transaction on the blockchain , so be ware

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#253

Hi! You mentioned that Bitcoin has had multiple forks in its history like bitcoin cash, gold, etc. Would these forks still fall under the overall rule of only 21 million Bitcoin being produced? Even though now they are technically their own thing?

#254

It depends, the 21 million rule is based on the amount of rewards a miner gets from block rewards. If for example a fork decided to increase these rewards, it would also mean there would be more of these coins in circulation eventually. :slight_smile:

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#255

Hello i have a question if invalid blocks are not being put in the blockchain when there is an hard fork and invalid blocks become valid what does happen to the old blocks that were invalid?

#256

i have the same question (but different)
is it possible to have the same transaction on both sides of the fork?

#257

The consensus rules usually change at a specific block height. So all blocks up to that height are validated by the old rules and stay in the blockchain as is :slight_smile:

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#258

In case of a hard fork, you could potentially make the same transaction, sending the same value to the same address on both chains :slight_smile:

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#259

Thank you :grinning:

#260

Hi Everyone
I have question about forks.
If I had lets say 1btc and after that blockchain has split and created new cryptocurrency.
Where I have my money in the BTC or new currency or both and I can decide which one I want to withdraw ?

#261

Hi :slight_smile: In case of a hard fork you will have funds on both chain. In this cases it is recommended to first withdraw your funds from the chain you trust more to a new address, before importing the key to the forked chain software and spend the coins there :slight_smile:

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#262

Hi Ales,

I’m very sorry maybe this question might sound stupid,
I’m just confuse about what Philip meant in his video when he said
hard fork is when previous invalid blocks becomes valid,
What does it mean?
does it mean that those invalid blocks from the past are still stored
by the nodes and the moment that there will be a hard fork those invalidated blocks from the past are activated and then they become valid and now part of the blockchain?
Please enlighten me :slight_smile: I just want a clarification because I do have many false assumptions right now in my mind. :smiley:

Thank you Ales in advance,
I really appreciate it. :slight_smile:

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#263

Hi @Ishoboy :slight_smile:
No your question is not stupid at all. In fact soft and hard forks can have a much broader meaning that the simple explanation of shrinking (lets be honest no one would do that) and expanding block size. But its the most simple in theory to understand :slight_smile:
As for your question. The fork is usually hard coded at specific block height when it will become a rule, so up to this point the blocks by the old rule are valid and after the block at that specified height has been mined the new rules apply. So there is no confusion when to verify blocks by the old or new rule :slight_smile:

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