Hard-fork In Cryptocurrency, Its Similarities With Softfork

Source

Hello great minds,

It is a new day, and I feel happy to come here again before my friends to make this post in the community.

I trust you are all doing perfectly fine and are enjoying your blogging and promotion activities on steemit.

In our last post, I explained the advantages of hardfork in the cryptospace and we learnt how it brings solution to scalability and how it enhances security of the blockchain network.

Today, we will be learning about the similarities and differences between softfork and hardfork, please tag along as I carry you along this space.

---

---

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN SOFTFORK AND HARDFORK

---

---

Both a softfork and a hardfork are types of network upgrade in the field of blockchain technology, especially in decentralized systems like cryptocurrency.

Despite their variation in implementation and consequences, there are some consequences being shared by these forks, and they shall be explained below.

• UPGRADE MECHANISM:

HARDFORK

In hardfork, there is an introduction of a change in the protocol which is not backward compatible.

This implies that nodes that have not upgraded to the new protocol will be unable to validate transactions or participate in the operation of the upgraded protocols and this result to permanent blockchain divergence.

SOFTFORK

A softfork on the other hand, makes use of protocol that are backward compatible, and nodes that have not upgraded their system can be a participant of the upgraded system.

This format allows for a short term coexistence between the old and new nodes.

• CONSENSUS RULE MODIFICATION:

HARDFORK

Hardfork has to do with a modification to the consensus rules, modification such as changes to the transaction format, block size or validation rules.

And this demands that all participants upgrade their software inorder to accept the new rules.

SOFTFORK

Softfork has to do with the tightening of consensus rules which makes previously valid blocks invalid and previously valid transaction invalid.

This implies that the new rules can be adopted by a subset of nodes, without the need to cause a permanent split in the blockchain

• BLOCKCHAIN SPLIT:

HARDFORK

Hardfork often result to a permanent split that cause the creation of two separate blockchain.

One of the blockchain follows the new rules while the other follows the old rules.

And this result in the creation of 2 distinct cryptocurrency.

SOFTFORK

Softfork creates a single blockchain which accepts the coexistence of both the old protocol and the new protocols.

If a larger number of miners or nodes adopt the new rules, it may result to the legacy chain becoming abandoned.

• COMMUNITY CONSENSUS:

Source

HARDFORK

Hardfork demands a higher level of consensus among the community, as there must be a simultaneous upgrade amongst all participants inorder to avoid a split.

Also, contentious hardfork and community fragmentation can result from disagreement.

SOFTFORK

A softfork does not demand a high level of consensus, It can be implemented with the use of a lower level consensus, as there's room for non-upgraded nodes to participate in it's validation processes.

However, to attain a cohesive work, it is very much desirable for a broader consensus.

• RISK AND COMPLEXITY:

HARDFORK

Hardfork are mostly said to be more complex as riskier, and this is as a result of its potential to embark on a permanent split, and also it's need for a widespread adoption of it's new protocols.

Hardfork often require a diligent coordination and planning amongst the community.

SOFTFORK

Softfork is seen as less risky and less complex due to the fact that it allows old nodes to be a participant in it's consensus mechanism, and also that it allows for a gradual transition.

However, if the new rules is not adopted by majority, there is a potential for unintentional network disruption.

---

---

CONCLUSION

---

---

Although hardfork and soft fork vary in their consequences and mode of execution, they share a common things in their roles as a mechanism for network upgrading.

Explained above are some ways in which they experience similarities.

As we proceed further, we shall learn more about hardfork and softfork.