Consensus & Mining
Intermediate
Updated 1/15/2025
What is
Soft-Fork?
A backward-compatible blockchain upgrade where old nodes can still validate new blocks, but may not understand all new features.
A soft fork is a type of blockchain upgrade that tightens or adds rules while remaining backward-compatible with older software. Unlike hard forks which require all nodes to upgrade, soft forks allow non-upgraded nodes to continue participating in the network - they can still validate blocks but may not understand new transaction types or features. Ergo has a sophisticated soft-fork mechanism that allows protocol improvements through miner voting without requiring contentious network splits. This enables smooth upgrades while maintaining network stability.
Key Points
- Backward-compatible: old nodes can still validate new blocks
- Tightens rules or adds new features within existing framework
- Less disruptive than hard forks - no network split
- Ergo uses miner voting for soft fork activation
- Requires majority miner support (typically 90%+)
- Enables gradual protocol improvements
Use Cases
1
Adding new ErgoScript operations without breaking old contracts
2
Adjusting protocol parameters (block size, fees)
3
Enabling new privacy features or optimizations
4
Fixing bugs or security issues without network split
5
Gradual protocol evolution with community consensus
Technical Details
Ergo's soft fork mechanism uses miner voting in block headers. When a protocol change is proposed, miners signal support by setting specific bits. Once threshold is reached (typically 90% over voting period), the change activates. Examples include changes to transaction validation rules, new script operations, or parameter adjustments. The eUTXO model facilitates soft forks since transaction validity is self-contained.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about Soft-Fork
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Connect your Nautilus wallet to Spectrum Finance, select tokens to swap, review the rate and slippage, then confirm. Spectrum uses AMM liquidity pools for instant trades. You can also provide liquidity to earn fees. All trades are atomic - they complete fully or not at all, with no front-running possible.
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How do miners earn money on Ergo?
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