A Network Fork occurs when a blockchain protocol undergoes a change that results in two separate versions of the ledger. A soft fork maintains backward compatibility, meaning older nodes can still recognize new blocks as valid, though they may not understand new features. A hard fork, conversely, creates an incompatible chain, requiring all nodes to upgrade to the new rules to continue participating. These events often reflect differing visions for a network’s evolution.
Context
The discussion surrounding network forks frequently addresses governance decisions and community alignment. A key debate involves the potential for network instability and the division of resources following a contentious hard fork. Critical future developments include more refined on-chain governance models and upgrade procedures designed to achieve broader consensus, thereby minimizing the disruptive potential of significant protocol changes.
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