Velvet Forks
Backward-compatible protocol upgrades
Enable protocol evolution without breaking changes or forced upgrades. Velvet forks allow gradual feature adoption while preserving ecosystem stability.
Quick Start
Learn Concepts
Understand velvet fork principles
View Examples
See velvet forks in action
Join Discussion
Participate in governance
Key Features
Why velvet forks are the future of blockchain protocol upgrades
Backward Compatibility
No breaking changes for existing applications and infrastructure
Gradual Adoption
New features can be adopted incrementally by the network
Flexible Updates
Protocol parameters can be adjusted without hard forks
Community Consensus
Changes require broad community agreement and miner support
Security Preservation
Maintains network security while enabling protocol evolution
Reduced Risk
Lower risk of network splits and ecosystem fragmentation
How It Works
The velvet fork process ensures smooth protocol evolution
Proposal Phase
Community proposes protocol improvements through EIPs
Discussion & Review
Technical review and community discussion
Implementation
Developers implement backward-compatible changes
Gradual Activation
Network adopts features without forced upgrades
Fork Comparison
Understanding different approaches to blockchain protocol upgrades
Hard Fork
Breaking changes that require all nodes to upgrade
Pros
- Complete protocol redesign possible
- Can fix fundamental issues
Cons
- Risk of network split
- Requires coordinated upgrade
Soft Fork
Backward-compatible changes that tighten rules
Pros
- Maintains backward compatibility
- No forced upgrades required
Cons
- Limited to rule tightening
- Cannot add new features easily
Velvet Fork
Ergo's approach: gradual feature introduction with full compatibility
Pros
- No breaking changes ever
- Gradual feature adoption
- Preserves ecosystem stability
Trade-offs
- Slower feature rollout
- Requires careful design
Use Cases
Real-world applications of velvet fork technology
Light Client Upgrades
Enable new features for light clients without breaking existing implementations
Privacy Enhancements
Gradually introduce new privacy features while maintaining backward compatibility
Smart Contract Evolution
Upgrade ErgoScript capabilities without requiring ecosystem-wide changes
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about velvet forks and their implementation
What exactly is a velvet fork?
How do velvet forks differ from soft forks?
Are velvet forks secure?
Do I need to upgrade my node for velvet forks?
What's Next?
Ready to explore velvet forks? Dive deeper into the technology and implementation.