What Is the Difference between a Soft Fork and a Hard Fork in the Context of Changing a Mining Algorithm?
A soft fork is a backward-compatible change to the protocol, meaning non-upgraded nodes will still recognize the new blocks as valid, though they may not fully understand the new rules. A hard fork is a non-backward-compatible change, requiring all nodes to upgrade to the new software.
Changing a mining algorithm typically requires a hard fork, as the fundamental validation logic is altered, causing the chain to permanently split into two separate blockchains.
Glossar
Fork
Chain ⎊ A fork, within cryptocurrency contexts, represents a divergence in the blockchain's history, resulting from a change in the underlying protocol rules.
Mining Algorithm
Algorithm ⎊ The Mining Algorithm defines the specific cryptographic hash function that miners must repeatedly execute to find a valid block header, thereby securing the network and validating transactions.
Hard Fork
Disruption ⎊ A hard fork represents a radical divergence in a blockchain’s protocol, creating a permanent split and typically resulting in a new cryptocurrency.
Soft Fork
Evolution ⎊ A soft fork represents a backward-compatible alteration to a cryptocurrency's protocol, essentially a modification that doesn't invalidate older versions.