A hard fork occurs when there is a fundamental change in a blockchain’s protocol, resulting in the
creation of a new chain that is incompatible with the previous one. After a hard fork, nodes must
upgrade to the new version of the blockchain’s software to continue participating in the network. A
hard fork can be used to implement new features, fix security issues, or change core aspects of the
blockchain.
Key Details:
Differences from Soft Forks: Unlike a soft fork, which is backward-compatible and allows nodes on
the previous version to still participate, a hard fork splits the blockchain into two distinct paths, with
the upgraded path requiring new software.
Examples: Notable hard forks include Bitcoin Cash from Bitcoin and Ethereum Classic from Ethereum.
These forks occurred due to disagreements within the community on how to handle certain protocol
changes, leading to the creation of separate blockchains.
Upgrade Requirements: Participants on the blockchain who wish to continue on the new chain after
a hard fork must update their software. Those who do not upgrade remain on the original chain,
which continues as a separate, incompatible blockchain.
Thus, the correct answer is Hard fork (A), as it directly refers to a blockchain split that requires client
upgrades for participation.
