Soft Fork
governance · consensus
A backward-compatible protocol change where upgraded nodes enforce stricter rules without splitting the network.
In a soft fork, upgraded nodes enforce rules that are stricter than the old rules. Non-upgraded nodes can still follow the same chain because blocks valid under the new rules also appear valid under the old rules, even though old nodes may not understand every new condition.
Soft forks can reduce coordination burden, but they also rely on enough miners and economic nodes enforcing the new rules. If activation is poorly coordinated, the network can still experience confusion, rejected blocks, or temporary splits.
Related terms
Fork
→A fork is a blockchain divergence caused by competing blocks, software changes, or incompatible consensus rules.
blockchain · event
Protocol Upgrade
→A coordinated change to the rules, messages, or policies implemented by network software.
governance · blockchain
Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP)
→A published proposal or information document for Bitcoin protocols, applications, or community processes.
governance · technology