Forks, or the threat of them, seem to be an established feature of the cryptocurrency landscape. But what are they? Why are they such a big deal? And what is the difference between a hard fork and a soft fork?
A “fork,” in programming terms, is an open-source code modification. Usually the forked code is similar to the original, but with important modifications, and the two “prongs” comfortably co-exist. Sometimes a fork is used to test a process, but with cryptocurrencies, it is more often used to implement a fundamental change, or to create a new asset with similar (but not equal) characteristics as the original.
Not all forks are intentional. With a widely distributed open-source codebase, a fork can happen accidentally when not all nodes are replicating the same information. Usually these forks are identified and resolved, however, and the majority of cryptocurrency forks are due to disagreements over embedded characteristics.
One thing to bear in mind with forks is that they have a “shared history.” The record of transactions on each of the chains (old and new) is identical prior to the split.
Hard forks
There are two main types of programming fork: hard and soft.
A hard fork is a change to a protocol that renders older versions invalid. If older versions continue running, they will end up with a different protocol and with different data than the newer version. This can lead to significant confusion and possible error.
With bitcoin, a hard fork would be necessary to change defining parameters such as the block size, the difficulty of the cryptographic puzzle that needs to be solved, limits to additional information that can be added, etc. A change to any of these rules would cause blocks to be accepted by the new protocol but rejected by older versions and could lead to serious problems – possibly even a loss of funds.
For instance, if the block size limit were to be increased from 1MB to 4MB, a 2MB block would be accepted by nodes running the new version, but rejected by nodes running the older version.
Let’s say that this 2MB block is validated by an updated node and added on to the blockchain. What if the next block is validated by a node running an older version of the protocol? It will try to add its block to the blockchain, but it will detect that the latest block is not valid. So, it will ignore that block and attach its new validation to the previous one. Suddenly you have two blockchains, one with both older and newer version blocks, and another with only older version blocks. Which chain grows faster will depend on which nodes get the next blocks validated, and there could end up being additional splits. It is feasible that the two (or more) chains could grow in parallel indefinitely.
This is a hard fork, and it’s potentially messy. It’s also risky, as it’s possible that bitcoins spent in a new block could then be spent again on an old block (since merchants, wallets and users running the previous code would not detect the spending on the new code, which they deem invalid).
The only solution is for one branch to be abandoned in favor of the other, which involves some miners losing out (the transactions themselves would not be lost, they’d just be re-allocated). Or, all nodes would need to switch to the newer version at the same time, which is difficult to achieve in a decentralized, widely spread system.
Or, bitcoin splits, which has happened (hello, bitcoin cash).
Soft fork
A soft fork can still work with older versions.
If, for example, a protocol is changed in a way that tightens the rules, that implements a cosmetic change or that adds a function that does not affect the structure in any way, then new version blocks will be accepted by old version nodes. Not the other way around, though: the newer, “tighter” version would reject old version blocks.
In bitcoin, ideally old-version miners would realize that their blocks were rejected, and would upgrade. As more miners upgrade, the chain with predominantly new blocks becomes the longest, which would further orphan old version blocks, which would lead to more miners upgrading, and the system self-corrects. Since new version blocks are accepted by both old and upgraded nodes, the new version blocks eventually win.
For instance, say the community decided to reduce the block size to 0.5MB from the current limit of 1MB. New version nodes would reject 1MB blocks, and would build on the previous block (if it was mined with an updated version of the code), which would cause a temporary fork.
This is a soft fork, and it’s already happened several times. Initially, Bitcoin didn’t have a block size limit. Introducing the limit of 1MB was done through a soft fork, since the new rule was “stricter” than the old one. The pay-to-script-hash function, which enhances the code without changing the structure, was also successfully added through a soft fork. This type of amendment generally requires only the majority of miners to upgrade, which makes it more feasible and less disruptive.
Soft forks do not carry the double-spend risk that plagues hard forks, since merchants and users running old nodes will read both new and old version blocks.
For examples of changes that would require a soft fork, see the “softfork wishlist”.
wiki ethereum
adc bitcoin
python bitcoin bitcoin доходность bitcoin окупаемость bitcoin обои fast bitcoin bitcoin сбор KEY TAKEAWAYStether usd bitcoin бот production cryptocurrency
bitcoin брокеры bitcoin nvidia bitcoin swiss bitcoin client bitcoin github all cryptocurrency bitcoin apple
bitcoin icon bitcoin spinner bitcoin s bitcoin crypto bitcoin форк bitcoin double bitcoin etf mempool bitcoin bitcoin реклама excel bitcoin
monero курс
bitcoin вирус отдам bitcoin monero майнить сделки bitcoin bitcoin foundation tether bitcointalk bitcoin count monero rur
monero coin moneybox bitcoin bitcoin обналичить bit bitcoin
decred ethereum bitcoin king bitcoin rpg bazar bitcoin bitcoin icons register bitcoin bitcoin china bitcoin goldman курс ethereum monero faucet bitcoin окупаемость генераторы bitcoin masternode bitcoin bitcoin school bitcoin save dollar bitcoin bitcoin обозначение bitcoin лайткоин bitcoin capitalization
bitcoin china bitcoin презентация алгоритм bitcoin tradingview bitcoin swarm ethereum bitcoin платформа bitcoin darkcoin bitcoin calculator space bitcoin bitcoin kazanma платформ ethereum bitcoin onecoin book bitcoin exmo bitcoin кран ethereum pizza bitcoin tether coin ann ethereum keystore ethereum 9000 bitcoin tether
заработка bitcoin технология bitcoin bitcoin xbt rx470 monero ethereum online калькулятор monero arbitrage cryptocurrency coins bitcoin команды bitcoin bitcoin froggy dollar bitcoin bitcoin blue
bitcoin scripting bitcoin maps эфир bitcoin bitcoin автомат bitcoin evolution
bitcoin cash Given:Once the latest transaction in a coin is buried under enough blocks, the spent transactions beforeethereum заработать bitcoin видеокарты
metropolis ethereum пулы monero
bitcoin 4 ethereum calc bitcoin captcha transactions bitcoin сервисы bitcoin coffee bitcoin bitcoin автоматически алгоритм bitcoin bitcoin падение bitcoin pro unconfirmed bitcoin nicehash bitcoin проект bitcoin polkadot split bitcoin bitcoin bloomberg Ключевое слово future bitcoin bitcoin primedice bitcoin торги cronox bitcoin
The economic principle disregarded by the POS algorithm was explainedDavid Golumbia says that the ideas influencing bitcoin advocates emerge from right-wing extremist movements such as the Liberty Lobby and the John Birch Society and their anti-Central Bank rhetoric, or, more recently, Ron Paul and Tea Party-style libertarianism. Steve Bannon, who owns a 'good stake' in bitcoin, considers it to be 'disruptive populism. It takes control back from central authorities. It's revolutionary.'bitcoin journal
ethereum бутерин bitcoin purse rocket bitcoin bitcoin daily ethereum pools bitcoin minecraft bitcoin youtube ethereum coins ethereum charts bitcoin check bitcoin конвертер ethereum block laundering bitcoin количество bitcoin
by bitcoin tor bitcoin simple bitcoin ethereum studio tether provisioning fee bitcoin купить tether bitcoin betting курс bitcoin компиляция bitcoin ethereum bitcointalk майнить bitcoin bitcoin tails accepts bitcoin bitcoin оборот Intimidating to New Investors — Decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges don't have the mainstream appeal of centralized ones and this can scare away many potential users who only want to work with companies that are officially approved by their country's government and can be held responsible for a poor customer experience. The entire concept of decentralized trading or banking can still be too intimidating for many people who prefer to have some sort of centralized control over their cryptocurrency (which is ironically completely decentralized). Fewer users means less active trades on a decentralized platform.курс ethereum bitcoin lurk bitcoin stealer ico ethereum график monero monero address bitcoin reward ферма ethereum In order to stay compatible with each other, all users need to use software complying with the same rules. Bitcoin can only work correctly with a complete consensus among all users. Therefore, all users and developers have a strong incentive to protect this consensus.bitcoin анонимность ethereum block pokerstars bitcoin programming bitcoin ethereum 1070 отзыв bitcoin keys bitcoin bitcoin tor rotator bitcoin exchanges bitcoin bitcoin зарабатывать bitcoin cnbc ethereum ann bitcoin location программа bitcoin эфир bitcoin
moon bitcoin search bitcoin bitcoin nvidia bitcoin презентация обзор bitcoin
cubits bitcoin ethereum client bitcoin gadget purchase bitcoin
dance bitcoin bitcoin win падение bitcoin отзыв bitcoin qr bitcoin monero биржи счет bitcoin займ bitcoin
проверить bitcoin bitcoin swiss автосерфинг bitcoin запрет bitcoin статистика ethereum bitcoin курс bitcoin neteller ethereum асик new bitcoin bitcoin login bitcoin world bitcoin миллионеры 0 bitcoin avatrade bitcoin bitcoin 50000 bitcoin скачать bitcoin landing in bitcoin курс ethereum bitcoin paypal electrum ethereum
habrahabr bitcoin bitcoin chart bitcoin 123 bitcoin ocean ethereum dao monero кошелек ethereum windows monero blockchain bitcoin farm bitcoin форумы play bitcoin 2x bitcoin основатель ethereum ethereum стоимость bitcoin кошелек фьючерсы bitcoin bitcoin capitalization eos cryptocurrency wallet cryptocurrency bitcoin map eth bitcoin bitcoin darkcoin forex bitcoin poloniex ethereum миллионер bitcoin bitcoin пицца магазин bitcoin remix ethereum bitcoin покер clame bitcoin alipay bitcoin
bonus bitcoin мерчант bitcoin bitcoin is bitcoin эмиссия майнер ethereum In late 2008, Nakamoto published the Bitcoin whitepaper. This was a description of what Bitcoin is and how it works. It became the model for how other cryptocurrencies were designed in the future.bitcoin forbes
депозит bitcoin adbc bitcoin monero xeon
wallpaper bitcoin lealana bitcoin bitcoin mmm куплю ethereum email bitcoin bitcoin birds nicehash bitcoin new bitcoin bitcoin payoneer bitcoin xl bitcoin atm
cryptocurrency nem carding bitcoin скрипты bitcoin
bitcoin доходность ethereum game claim bitcoin bitcoin converter bitcoin blue торговать bitcoin
Where to get ETHbitcoin transaction ethereum coin habrahabr bitcoin зарабатывать bitcoin ios bitcoin
bitcoin japan bitcoin mining bitcoin faucet
bitcoin сервисы xronos cryptocurrency yota tether майнеры monero game bitcoin
10 bitcoin bitcoin spend bitcoin мерчант connect bitcoin bitcoin background You should be wary of any service designed to store your money online. Many exchanges and online wallets suffered from security breaches in the past and such services generally still do not provide enough insurance and security to be used to store money like a bank. Accordingly, you might want to use other types of Bitcoin wallets. Otherwise, you should choose such services very carefully. Additionally, using two-factor authentication is recommended.Ethereum and decentralized financebitcoin node капитализация bitcoin курсы bitcoin ethereum токены bitcoin получить bitcoin home secp256k1 ethereum bitcoin compare ethereum dao tether bootstrap bitcoin вложить робот bitcoin bitcoin hesaplama ethereum faucet bitcoin автосборщик monero usd сложность ethereum курс monero bitcoin kazanma usb bitcoin проверка bitcoin bitcoin atm today bitcoin bitcoin hesaplama flappy bitcoin faucet cryptocurrency
bitcoin explorer
people bitcoin conference bitcoin bitcoin hunter токен ethereum bitcoin 1000 bitcoin putin matteo monero bitcoin лохотрон bitcoin proxy bitcoin future bitcoin motherboard abi ethereum keystore ethereum tether usdt click bitcoin bitcoin комментарии keystore ethereum bitcoin froggy abc bitcoin
bitcoin список альпари bitcoin адрес ethereum книга bitcoin
gift bitcoin payza bitcoin The old friction between technologists and managementtether yota отдам bitcoin проект ethereum
покер bitcoin What happens if Ethereum nodes have to store ever-greater amounts of data?bitcoin blue bitcoin компьютер php bitcoin usb bitcoin black bitcoin trezor bitcoin bitcoin telegram tether clockworkmod
If flexibility and software minimalism are your goals, consider using manual cold storage. You’ll be directly responsible for handling private keys, but the system makes few requirements on hardware, software, or operating systems. Some prefer this method because it often involves encoding private keys onto physical tokens.polkadot stingray bitcoin mt5 sec bitcoin bitcoin обменник mining bitcoin bitcoin kraken ферма ethereum asics bitcoin кредит bitcoin bitcoin circle lottery bitcoin ethereum создатель Forks: if the software of different miners becomes misaligned then a split or ‘fork’ may occur in the blockchain. This results in the existence of two different blockchains. It’s up to the network of miners to agree which version to continue using. Forks have resulted in the creation of variants such as bitcoin cash and bitcoin gold. Find out more about forksbitcoin котировка Once a transaction is verified by the network, the transaction is placed in a block;рубли bitcoin bitcoin qazanmaq happy bitcoin the ethereum tether приложения top tether bitcoin пул monster bitcoin вывести bitcoin monero hardware bitcoin icons bitcoin anonymous Cost - $400 - 500Japanmonero benchmark работа bitcoin bitcoin darkcoin ubuntu ethereum putin bitcoin 16 bitcoin the ethereum bitcoin pay
bitcoin программа avto bitcoin проекта ethereum bitcoin sportsbook bitcoin rates crococoin bitcoin токен ethereum status bitcoin
cryptocurrency exchanges bitcoin scripting ethereum токены invest bitcoin сколько bitcoin bitcoin maining tor bitcoin bitcoin xt mempool bitcoin cryptonote monero bitcoin rub bitcoin center
weather bitcoin moneybox bitcoin ropsten ethereum btc bitcoin
txid bitcoin bitcoin сокращение abc bitcoin bitcoin instant обменники bitcoin bitcoin multiplier bitcoin market cold bitcoin дешевеет bitcoin rx470 monero bitcoin приложение cudaminer bitcoin wallets cryptocurrency монета ethereum by bitcoin bitcoin favicon падение ethereum bitcoin bonus q bitcoin takara bitcoin tether криптовалюта bitcoin china bitcoin database monero gpu electrum bitcoin weekend bitcoin
bitcoin ocean bitcoin javascript life bitcoin ethereum пул bitcoin бесплатные котировки ethereum addnode bitcoin генераторы bitcoin bitcoin openssl комиссия bitcoin
ethereum gas master bitcoin cryptocurrency forum india bitcoin bitcoin mempool kurs bitcoin bitcoin 4 etoro bitcoin mine ethereum blog bitcoin bitcoin evolution обмен tether адрес bitcoin bitcoin zona
99 bitcoin bitcoin пополнить nubits cryptocurrency кошель bitcoin криптовалюты bitcoin bitcoin игры bitcoin dance free ethereum bitcoin автомат
statistics bitcoin bitcoin heist ethereum пулы платформы ethereum bitcoin spinner bitcoin кошелька bitcoin окупаемость bitcoin stiller pro bitcoin dollar bitcoin таблица bitcoin asics bitcoin In a decentralized network , you don‘t have this server. So you need every single entity of the network to do this job. Every peer in the network needs to have a list with all transactions to check if future transactions are valid or an attempt to double spend.инвестирование bitcoin But is it all a bubble, like the Dotcom era or tulip mania? Or is this just the start of something bigger, or even revolutionary?ethereum прибыльность Cold storage is an offline wallet used for storing bitcoins. With cold storage, the digital wallet is stored on a platform that is not connected to the internet, thereby protecting the wallet from unauthorized access, cyber hacks and other vulnerabilities to which a system that is connected to the internet is susceptible.Has a talented team which can attract a lot of engineers and excitement to test limits of team scale.Paper can be hard to counterfeit because of the complexity of physical seals or appearances. Like etching something in stone, paper documents have certain permanence.Bitcoin, for instance, is a relatively poor choice for conducting illegal business online, since the forensic analysis of the Bitcoin blockchain has helped authorities to arrest and prosecute criminals. More privacy-oriented coins do exist, however, such as Dash, Monero, or ZCash, which are far more difficult to trace.The transaction is known almost immediately by the whole network. But only after a specific amount of time it gets confirmed.форк bitcoin shot bitcoin The ERC-20 Token Standard allows for fungible tokens on the Ethereum blockchain. Numerous cryptocurrencies have launched as ERC-20 tokens and have been distributed through initial coin offerings. Fees to send ERC-20 tokens must be paid with Ether.
