Questions tagged [soft-fork]
Should be used for questions regarding softforks of the bitcoin blockchain
79
questions
5
votes
1
answer
376
views
Why isn't the taproot deployment buried in Bitcoin Core?
Bitcoin Inquisition recently had a PR about soft fork activation and as part that PR, it buries taproot and references a closed PR to Bitcoin Core to bury taproot. Will the taproot deployment be ...
- 155
3
votes
3
answers
74
views
Does version of Bitcoin Core determine my consensus?
As far as (voting) on the network?
I run a full node, but do not mine.
I hear people say we have a choice when changes are made.
Is it the version of Core that determines that?
1
vote
1
answer
45
views
Does Bitcoin need future consensus change upgrades or could a billion people use Bitcoin today?
Do Bitcoin Core and other base-layer implementations necessarily need further upgrades in order to become sufficiently fast and efficient to process the volume of transactions that you and others ...
- 12.6k
7
votes
2
answers
374
views
Why exactly would adding further divisibility to bitcoin require a hard fork?
There are quite a few threads already on this topic, but they all focus on the necessity or possibility for such a change. I understand that, even though it is difficult and would obviously require ...
- 344
2
votes
1
answer
44
views
Can you attack the network in a UASF-way?
Let's say that an attacker wants to deploy a softfork, that isn't desired by the majority of the Bitcoin users. Can he enforce that softfork in a UASF-way, essentially flooding the network with nodes ...
- 383
2
votes
2
answers
213
views
Do non-Segwit nodes reject Segwit transactions with invalid signature?
As far as I can tell, non-Segwit nodes receive anyone-can-spend transactions, and thus come with no signature to validate. If a miner included a Segwit transaction to a block with invalid signature, ...
- 383
2
votes
1
answer
64
views
What is the history on how previous soft forks were tested prior to being considered for activation?
How were previous soft forks tested prior to being considered for activation? Were they added to the default testnet? Was a custom testnet setup with the soft fork functionality available on that ...
- 12.6k
0
votes
2
answers
99
views
Could OFAC create a soft fork?
If OFAC demanded that no US entity build on top of a block with a sanctioned TX included, would it cause a soft fork?
- 671
0
votes
1
answer
70
views
What is the difference between 51% attack fork, hard fork and soft fork?
I am confused between the forking that can be created because of the 51% attack and the soft fork and hard fork.
Does forks because of 51% attack can also lead to new crypto currency creation?
- 103
2
votes
2
answers
57
views
Automatically reverting soft forks
Recently, Harding discussed on bitcoin-dev mailing list an idea for a transitory soft fork activation e.g. for CTV. The idea (if I understood correctly) was that the activation would come with inbuilt ...
- 1,034
2
votes
0
answers
109
views
Could the Lightning Network encounter any problems as a result of Taproot activating?
I was reading this excellent write up from Laolu Osuntokun on how the light client protocol Neutrino encountered a Taproot related issue on testnet. (Taproot is already active on testnet.)
Could the ...
- 12.6k
1
vote
1
answer
251
views
Taproot activates within the next 2 weeks. What could go wrong and what could be done to reduce probability of any of these bad case scenarios?
According to taproot.watch Taproot activates in approximately 10 days (block 709632) at the time of writing (November 4th 2021). What could go wrong with regards to bad case or worst case scenarios? ...
- 12.6k
0
votes
1
answer
115
views
What's coming to Bitcoin in 2022 and beyond?
Taproot is coming, Core is going to continue stepping the way to finally phasing out Berkeley DB at last.
Any other new soft fork in the works?
Is Bitcoin done with improvements yet?
At some point, ...
- 637
1
vote
1
answer
264
views
How are OP_CSV and OP_CLTV backwards compatible
I am not able to see how older nodes prior to BIP 68, BIP112 and BIP 65 are able to prevent adding Transactions to their mempool when the newer rules are deliberately breached. I want to separate two ...
- 48
2
votes
1
answer
110
views
Does a hard fork need to include a soft fork as well?
Using these definitions of soft fork and hard fork:
soft fork – tightening of the consensus rules, new blocks remain valid for old nodes
hard fork – loosening of the consensus rules, new blocks might ...
- 4,079
2
votes
1
answer
156
views
How has the design of the opcode OP_CHECKTEMPLATEVERIFY evolved over its various renames?
OP_CHECKTEMPLATEVERIFY (BIP 119) has gone through various iterations. I don't particularly find the renames at all interesting (e.g. OP_CHECKOUTPUTSHASHVERIFY, OP_SECURETHEBAG) but I am interested in ...
- 12.6k
0
votes
1
answer
73
views
How would new jets for Simplicity be soft forked in? What prevents a miner from mining a new jet?
What is the current thinking on how new jets for Simplicity would be soft forked into Bitcoin (in a speculative future where Simplicity was already itself soft forked into Bitcoin)? What would happen ...
- 12.6k
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What are the downsides to enabling potentially suboptimal or unused opcodes in a future soft fork?
It appears to me that there are various ways to build covenants and vaults with opcodes and sighash flags that are not yet enabled in Bitcoin (e.g. OP_CHECKTEMPLATEVERIFY, SIGHASH_ANYPREVOUT, OP_CAT).
...
- 12.6k
1
vote
1
answer
76
views
Who enforces new consensus rules in Bitcoin?
I have been reading at few places that miners will enforce new consensus rules. Examples:
https://twitter.com/BitMEXResearch/status/1391014115968274433
https://twitter.com/ajtowns/status/...
user103136
3
votes
1
answer
690
views
How can I follow the progress of miner signaling for Taproot activation during the Speedy Trial deployment?
How can I follow the progress of miner signaling for Taproot activation during the Speedy Trial deployment? Can I use bitcoin-cli to track the signaling progress?
This was asked by pox on Mastodon and ...
- 12.6k
0
votes
1
answer
73
views
Will the miner be provided with reward if a hard fork occurs?
When will the miner be provide with reward(if at all) when a hard fork occurs?
When will the miner be provide with reward(if at all) when a soft fork occurs?
0
votes
2
answers
192
views
Is there network split risk for Taproot activation with two releases (Bitcoin Core and Bitcoin Taproot)?
In this article from Aaron van Wirdum he states there is a risk of a network split with two releases (Bitcoin Core and Bitcoin Taproot) not following exactly the same activation mechanism(s)? Is this ...
- 12.6k
3
votes
2
answers
325
views
Should block height or MTP or a mixture of both be used in a soft fork activation mechanism?
Should block height or MTP (median time past defined in BIP 113) or a mixture of both be used in an activation mechanism like BIP 8 or BIP 9 for defining the timings of the state transitions?
What are ...
- 12.6k
0
votes
1
answer
39
views
Why is there no forced signaling during the LOCKED_IN phase of BIP 8(LOT=true)?
Why is there no forced signaling during the LOCKED_IN phase of BIP 8(LOT=true)?
During the MUST_SIGNAL phase of BIP 8(LOT=true) a threshold of miners have to signal. The next phase after MUST_SIGNAL ...
- 12.6k
1
vote
0
answers
38
views
Questions RE soft forks
I’m trying to understand how the Bitcoin network works a bit better and the main thing I’m having trouble with is forks, particularly soft forks. I have a few questions about how exactly a soft fork ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
47
views
Why does the threshold apply to the MUST_SIGNAL phase in revised BIP 8 (lot=true)? Why doesn't it enforce 100 percent signaling?
BIP 8 states that:
During the MUST_SIGNAL phase, if (2016 - threshold) blocks in the
retarget period have already failed to signal, any further blocks that
fail to signal are invalid.
Why doesn't it ...
- 12.6k
0
votes
1
answer
84
views
Could Bitcoin Core leave the lockinontimeout parameter choice entirely to Bitcoin Core users and not set a default?
There doesn't appear to be overwhelming consensus on the lockinontimeout (LOT) parameter for the Taproot BIP 8 activation mechanism. I know some would strongly argue against doing this but could ...
- 12.6k
1
vote
1
answer
124
views
What is the point of miner signaling in a soft fork activation mechanism? What should the threshold be on miner signaling?
What is the point of miner signaling in a soft fork activation mechanism? What should the threshold be on miner signaling?
The second part of this question was asked by devrandom on IRC.
A question on ...
- 12.6k
1
vote
2
answers
230
views
What is the benefit of forced signaling in a soft fork activation mechanism?
What is the benefit of forced signaling in a soft fork activation mechanism? e.g. the MUST_SIGNAL phase in revised BIP 8.
I understand the benefits of setting lockinontimeout (LOT) to true (some of ...
- 12.6k
-2
votes
1
answer
139
views
Can cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin be turned into a censored payment system under that would be financial regulation framework creating soft forks? [closed]
It s well known mining pools as well as hashing power is centralized in countries where electricity is cheap and using mining farms rather belonging to at least medium sized companies than single hand ...
- 276
1
vote
2
answers
430
views
Were anyone-can-spend transactions valid before SegWit?
Non-segwit nodes (legacy nodes) see segwit transactions as anyone-can-spend (ACS) transactions. It is clear that such a nodes can (and do) validate blocks containing ACS transactions, because the ...
- 13
2
votes
1
answer
146
views
What is a softchain?
What is softchain and how is it different from drivechain? What are associated tradeoffs and feedback from community?
user103136
1
vote
1
answer
47
views
Broadcasting deprecated block version
With the recent addition of Binance to the group of miners who will accept taproot,
I wonder what would happen if despite a total of more than 99% of the network accepting it, a miner still doesn't ...
- 2,548
9
votes
1
answer
746
views
How do BIP8 and BIP9 differ, how are they alike?
With Taproot on everyone's lips, people have started discussing activation approaches. The debate currently seems to favor BIP8. Previous soft forks used BIP9. How are the two related and what are the ...
- 68.5k
2
votes
2
answers
107
views
How do nodes verify backwards incompatible blocks?
When you start the initial block download with the latest versions of Bitcoin Core, how does your node know that old blocks were valid according to different rules prior to soft forks?
- 31
2
votes
0
answers
28
views
Why is BIP133 listed as 'Draft' when it has been implemented for years?
BIP133 is listed as 'Draft' but it has been implemented since v.0.13.0
https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0133.mediawiki
Is there anything preventing it from being labelled as 'Final'?
- 547
6
votes
1
answer
171
views
How do we know which soft-forks were implemented using User-Activated Soft Fork or Miner-Activated Soft Fork?
This seems to be the most common definition
When a majority of miners upgrade to enforce new rules, it is called a miner-activated soft fork (MASF). When full nodes coordinate to
enforce new rules, ...
- 547
0
votes
1
answer
153
views
If I delay upgrading to the latest Bitcoin Core version post Taproot activation does my node ever verify early Taproot spends?
Let's assume the Taproot soft fork is activated in June 2021. I continue to run an old version of Bitcoin Core (not enforcing Taproot rules) in July 2021 and so my full node treats valid Taproot ...
- 12.6k
0
votes
2
answers
132
views
What is stopping a Taproot spend following old Taproot rules (initially treated as anyone-can-spend) pre-activation creating a re-org post activation?
This question is similar to this Signet question on Signet nodes enforcing different Taproot rules (old and new) pre mainnet activation. Instead it is regarding how a valid Taproot spend on mainnet ...
- 12.6k
1
vote
2
answers
286
views
Does a soft fork result in two different blockchain versions?
I've read the following:
Both forks create a split, but a hard fork creates two blockchains
and a soft fork is meant to result in one.
Let's consider 2 situations:
block size max limit is 1mb and ...
- 421
2
votes
1
answer
209
views
Can we experiment on Signet with multiple proposed soft forks whilst maintaining the ability of full nodes to validate the Signet chain?
One of the goals of Signet is to test proposed soft forks before they are activated on mainnet. Not only does this mean proposed soft forks such as Taproot that at the time of writing (August 2020) ...
- 12.6k
2
votes
1
answer
75
views
What is the point of a soft fork when it's backwards compatible?
I understand a soft fork occurs when changes in the Bitcoin protocol are backwards compatible, but why is that a fork? Is there really a branch or is that just a formality? Or does this give me a ...
- 459
1
vote
1
answer
84
views
A Bitcoin soft fork idea to help compress the blockchain
I've thought about a soft fork that can help storage costs.
Why don't we force miners to embed the height of the TX Merkle tree in the first two bytes of the 4-byte block header version?
It would ...
- 10k
4
votes
1
answer
436
views
BIP34, BIP66 and BIP65 should have been enforced at unique block heights. Why do different sources claim different block heights for enforcement?
Inconsistent Consensus/Activation of BIPs
BIP34
Activated Block Height 227,835 (BitMEX Reference)
Activated Block Height 227,930 (Bitcoin Developer Reference)
Activated Block Height 227,931 (...
- 547
1
vote
0
answers
50
views
How could be useful the softforks field that provides the RPC command getblockchaininfo?
When I execute the command getblockchaininfo I see useful information but I don't understand how to be useful the information that is displayed through field softforks, the example below:
bitcoin-cli ...
0
votes
1
answer
63
views
Can we detect contentious soft forks created by the miners?
Can we analyze the blocks or the data sent per block in order to see if it includes new data that we do not recognize and assume that's a soft fork and invalidate such a block?
Can a softforked mining ...
- 123
2
votes
1
answer
52
views
why bip 34 uses two step on MASF(Miner Activated Soft Fork)?
in bip 34, which change to bitcoin version 1 -> 2, uses two step for network's consensus.
step 1. check if 750 of the last 1000 blocks are version 2 or greater.
step 2. check if 950 of the last ...
- 23
0
votes
1
answer
98
views
Bitcoin 51% majority miner attack - question on the role of user activated soft forks as defense tactic
If one mining entity has alone 52% hash power of the overall network, then this party can block transactions for example and try to "build" up a forked, longer chain while time passes, right?. As I ...
- 827
0
votes
1
answer
66
views
How can Bitcoin protect itself from a "dumb majority soft fork"?
Let's say a majority of miners change to using software that prohibits timelocks. This would be a softfork, so the blockchain would still look valid to nodes using the previous software, however nodes ...
- 1,511
4
votes
1
answer
339
views
Activation of SegWit v1
The segregated witness soft fork of August 2017 included a versioning field which would allow for future incrementation. Anthony Towns has recently posted an early draft of the proposal for the SegWit ...
