The Bitcoin Field Guide

Bitcoin can feel complicated. The Bitcoin Field Guide is a growing collection of straightforward answers to the questions people actually have about Bitcoin, from the basics of how it works to self custody, mining, privacy, and using bitcoin in everyday life.

New entry every Monday.

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What happens when Bitcoin's rules change? Learn the difference between soft forks and hard forks, why backward compatibility matters, and how changes to the network can sometimes lead to a split.

What’s the difference between a soft fork and a hard fork?