Soft Fork
A backward-compatible upgrade to a blockchain that tightens the rules, so older software still accepts…
In plain English
A backward-compatible upgrade to a blockchain that tightens the rules, so older software still accepts the new blocks.
A soft fork is a gentle kind of fork. The new rules are stricter versions of the old ones, so blocks made under the new rules still look valid to nodes that haven't upgraded. The chain doesn't split as long as most of the block-producing power goes along with it.
Bitcoin has used soft forks for major upgrades, such as SegWit in 2017 and Taproot in 2021, usually after long public debate via Bitcoin Improvement Proposals. Compare hard fork.
Keep this word for good
Your free Private Swap Lounge saves the terms you’ve learned and quizzes you on them. Portal under construction. Expected delivery date is December 01, 2026.