UASF and UAHF

March 2, 2019

FrederikNielsen
262

What are a soft fork and a hard fork?

They are both changes in protocol.

Soft Fork

A modification to the software protocol is a soft fork when previously legitimate blocks/transactions are made void. It is a backwards-compatible because old nodes will recognized the brand-new blocks as valid.

Hard Fork

On the other hand, a hard fork is a protocol’s basic change that makes previously void blocks/transactions valid. All nodes or users should upgrade to the updated version of the procedure software application. It is a permanent change from its previous version of the Blockchain. In this case, nodes with previous versions will no longer acceptable.

What are UASF and UAHF?

UASF represents User Activated Soft Fork

UASF is a system where the soft forks’ time of activation occurs on a required date by full nodes.  It is considered as the economic majority. This system needs full support and coordination from the industry. SegWit activation in the BIP148 proposal was unified with UASF idea.

UAHF means User Activated Hard Fork

A needed rule set is added to change the node software. The changes can make previous invalid blocks to be valid after being flagged.  Establishing this action doesn`t need a majority of hash power. Bitmain, a mining company, introduced UAHF as a contingency strategy against UASF.

How UASF vs. UAHF decision started?

For a long period of time,  bitcoin has known for some powerlessness.

Some users and mining companies like Bitmain and Bitcoin Unlimited do not uphold this idea. They accept new requirements but others can still use the former version of the Bitcoin code.  To avoid such and save a Blockchain of transactions, many versions are used.

Are there any precedents of soft forks and hard forks?

They are visible every day to all users of cryptocurrencies.

The Blockchain is where every transaction gets in. Different individuals use a different chain of operations in the time of mining. There’s a fork in a string before the longest chain is carried out.

History of Ethereum considered the most meaningful example of UASF and UAHF application.

Ethereum started the DAO task last April-May, 2006, after a month when a hacker snapped up the cash of a holder.

  • Accepting the theft and not doing anything
  • Blockchain will be rolling back to a period before the theft or hard fork
  • Hacker`s wallets incorrect transactions will be accepted and will return the money, or soft fork

The task was not appreciated by some users. They accepted the theft, therefore, it enables the 2nd Blockchain’s appearance.

How will the implementation of UASF or UAHF modification Bitcoin?

There is a great number of possible situations.

The next innovations will depend on users and miners if one of the strategies is chosen. Based on the percentage of provided classifications, the first possible circumstances are:

Many miners and users agree on the said plan. This right situation includes no fork and only one branch exists.

A lot of users accept the strategy and miners don`t do any move. If users are more than 51 %, one branch will be okay. But if it is lesser than 51%, two branches will be needed which are Users’ fork and Miners’ fork. If the number of users increases to more than 51%, Miners are removed.

Since users and miners can`t reach plan, a bigger group can attack the smaller one. Smaller group’s transactions are not safe since they can be removed.

Situations like that have different effects such as smaller group can protect and alter algorithms and procedures.

Frederik Nielsen
Frederik Nielsen

I’m a freelance writer and full-time curious person. My main interests are philosophy, politics, art, culture, science, and how they’re all interlinked. When I’m not writing, I’m fronting a band, producing records, and making videos. I’m also currently working on launching a YouTube channel that will focus on culture and politics. I think blockchain technology is fascinating because of the huge potential it has to revolutionise not only the financial sector, but society as a whole.

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