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<p>Cryptocurrency networks rely on a set of rules called the blockchain protocol. These rules are essential for maintaining the integrity of the blockchain. However, a blockchain fork can occur when there is a disagreement about these rules. This means that different blockchains can operate at the same time.</p><h2 id="header-0">Types of forks</h2><p>Forks are primarily of two types: accidental and intentional. Accidental forks happen when two miners simultaneously discover a block, creating temporary parallel chains. This is usually resolved as one chain becomes longer, and the shorter one is discarded.</p><p>Intentional forks involve making changes to the protocol, which could lead to new cryptocurrencies.</p><p>For these forks to succeed, they need backing from the community. If they don&#39;t receive enough support, the new cryptocurrency may become worthless.</p><p>On the other hand, with sufficient support, both the original and new cryptocurrencies can develop independently. Intentional forks are either soft or hard forks.</p><p>Soft forks are minor upgrades that work well with previous protocol versions, allowing a smooth transition to a single, updated blockchain version. They are often used for optimizing or fixing bugs.</p><p>In contrast, hard forks are significant upgrades that are incompatible with previous versions. They result in permanent changes, requiring all users to adopt the new protocol. If not all users update their software, this leads to the creation of two distinct blockchains.</p><h2 id="header-1">A bit of history</h2><p>Historically, notable hard forks have had significant impacts. For instance, Bitcoin Cash emerged in 2017 due to disagreements within the Bitcoin community about block size and the implementation of Segregated Witness. Ethereum Classic was born after the DAO hack in 2016 due to a hard fork in the Ethereum community.</p><p>Cloning, often confused with forking, involves copying and modifying an existing cryptocurrency&#39;s codebase to create a new blockchain, as seen with Litecoin&#39;s creation by Charlie Lee.</p><p>He modified Bitcoin&#39;s codebase to enhance transaction speed and scalability, creating a cryptocurrency similar to Bitcoin but quicker.</p><p>Blockchain forks, whether accidental or intentional, are vital for resolving disputes, introducing new features, and creating new digital currencies, allowing networks to adapt and evolve in response to technological and community-driven changes.</p><h3 id="qtum-s-blog">Qtum’s Blog</h3><p>If you’re looking for an in-depth review of Qtum’s happenings and all extended versions of our articles, head to our <a href="https://qtum.org/blog" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Qtum Blog.  </a></p>

Understanding Blockchain Forks

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