Soft Fork

Short Description:

A change to the blockchain protocol that is backward-compatible.

Main Description:

A soft fork refers to a backward-compatible update or modification to the blockchain protocol that does not result in a permanent divergence of the blockchain network. It occurs when the protocol rules are tightened, making previously valid blocks or transactions invalid. Nodes that have not upgraded to the new rules can still operate within the network but may not recognize the new blocks. Soft forks are typically implemented to introduce minor changes, improve security, or enhance network efficiency, ensuring compatibility and maintaining the integrity of the blockchain. Note: This only applies to networks without an amendment process.