Fork
A divergence in a blockchain where two versions of the chain exist with different rules.
A divergence in a blockchain where two versions of the chain exist with different rules.
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Sep 2026 · Freshness Score: 50%
What is Fork?
A divergence in a blockchain where two versions of the chain exist with different rules.
- Category
- concept
- Type
- Authority Node
- Sources
- 1
A soft fork tightens rules so old nodes still accept new blocks (e.g., SegWit). A hard fork changes rules incompatibly: old nodes reject new blocks, and if not everyone upgrades, the chain splits into two (e.g., Bitcoin Cash from Bitcoin, E
Forks are how blockchains upgrade and how communities resolve irreconcilable differences. They create new assets (holders of the original get the fork's tokens) and new governance precedents. Understanding forks clarifies both how networks
Knowledge Graph
8 relationsRelated
1. What Is a Fork
A fork is a change to a blockchain's protocol that creates a divergence — either a new version of the software or a split into two chains. Forks can be soft (backward-compatible) or hard (breaking), and intentional (upgrades) or contentious (community splits).
2. How It Works
A soft fork tightens rules so old nodes still accept new blocks (e.g., SegWit). A hard fork changes rules incompatibly: old nodes reject new blocks, and if not everyone upgrades, the chain splits into two (e.g., Bitcoin Cash from Bitcoin, Ethereum Classic from Ethereum). Forks activate at a block height after community and developer coordination.
3. Why It Matters
Forks are how blockchains upgrade and how communities resolve irreconcilable differences. They create new assets (holders of the original get the fork's tokens) and new governance precedents. Understanding forks clarifies both how networks evolve and the risks of chain splits (reorgs, duplicated assets).
4. Key Facts
- Hard forks split the chain if adoption is incomplete
- Soft forks upgrade without a split
- The DAO fork (2016) split Ethereum/Ethereum Classic
- Contentious forks can create confusion and market volatility
5. Related Concepts
- hard-fork
- soft-fork
- protocol-upgrade
- consensus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fork?
A divergence in a blockchain where two versions of the chain exist with different rules.
How does Fork work?
A fork is a change to a blockchain's protocol that creates a divergence — either a new version of the software or a split into two chains. Forks can be soft (backward-compatible) or hard (breaking), and intentional (upgrades) or contentious (community splits). A soft fork tightens rules so old node
Why does Fork matter in Web3?
- soft-fork - protocol-upgrade - consensus