What Is a Soft Fork (Blockchain)?
A soft fork is a type of software upgrade for blockchain networks that allows backward compatibility with older versions. It is an alternative to hard forks, which are more disruptive and require all users to update their software in order to remain compatible with the network. Soft forks allow new features or protocol changes to be implemented without forcing everyone on the network to upgrade at once. This makes them less risky than hard forks, as they can be rolled out gradually over time while still allowing users who haven’t upgraded yet to continue using the old version of the software.
Soft forks also have some advantages over hard forks when it comes to security and scalability. Since only part of the network needs updating, there is less risk associated with introducing bugs or vulnerabilities into the system since fewer nodes need upgrading at once. Additionally, because not every node has been updated immediately after a soft fork occurs, it can help reduce congestion on blockchains by reducing transaction volume until all nodes have been upgraded successfully.