The definition of a soft fork is a further constraint. A narrowing of the consensus rules. The definition of a hard fork is relaxing a constraint. A broadening of the rules.
So expanding the main block size limit (Satoshiβs 1MB limit) is a hard fork because it relaxes the limit. Unupgraded nodes would NOT accept the new, larger blocks. Itβs a hard fork because everyone must upgrade, or be left behind.
By contrast, reducing the block size is a soft fork. Unupgraded nodes will accept the new, smaller blocks just fine. Itβs backwards compatible. People can opt to run old software and continue to use Bitcoin.
You're right, I was using hard fork & chainsplit interchangeably.
Thanks for the lesson π
No worries. Youβre right that you can get a chain split in both cases. Soft forks are not without risk.
Thread collapsed
Thread collapsed