What is the term for a blockchain upgrade that is backward compatible and does not result in a split of the blockchain?
What is the term for a blockchain upgrade that is backward compatible and does not result in a split of the blockchain?
Answer:
The term for a blockchain upgrade that is backward compatible and does not result in a split of the blockchain is called a “soft fork”. A soft fork is a software upgrade that is fully compatible with earlier versions of the blockchain. It tightens the consensus rules, making previously valid blocks invalid, thus creating a situation where all nodes are required to upgrade in order to continue participating in the network. As a result, a soft fork does not lead to a split in the network, as long as the majority of the hash power enforces the new rules.
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