--- title: "Fork (Bifurcation)" url: "https://www.unknowngravity.com/en/glosario/fork-bifurcacion" site: Unknown Gravity published: "2025-06-07T15:23:50+00:00" modified: "2026-10-15T21:18:40+00:00" language: en description: A change to a blockchain protocol that can split the network into two chains. Learn the types of fork, why they happen and what they lead to. section: "Home > Glossary > Fork (Bifurcation)" --- # Fork (Bifurcation) GLOSSARY · BLOCKCHAIN & WEB3 What a fork is in blockchain: soft and hard forks, why they happen (Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum Classic) and what happens to your coins when a chain splits. Reviewed on October 15, 2026 A fork (bifurcation) is an event that occurs when the protocol of a blockchain is modified, which generates a divergence in block history and in the rules that nodes follow to validate new transactions. This bifurcation can be temporary or permanent, and is mainly classified into two types: soft fork and hard fork. ## What is a fork in blockchain? A **fork (bifurcation)** is an event that occurs when **the protocol of a blockchain is modified**, which generates a **divergence in block history and in the rules that nodes follow to validate new transactions**. This bifurcation can be **temporary or permanent**, and is mainly classified into two types: - **Soft fork**: it's a **backward-compatible** update, where blocks created under the new rules are also valid for nodes that have not yet updated. It doesn't require the entire network to be updated simultaneously, but to function properly in the long term, it needs a significant majority of miners or validators to adopt the new rules. - **Hard fork**: it's an update that is **not compatible** with the previous version. It creates a permanent break in the network, where part of the nodes continue with the old protocol and another part adopts the new one. This can result in **two independent chains**, as was the case with **Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash** or with **Ethereum and Ethereum Classic**. In these cases, both chains share the history before the fork, but they follow different trajectories from the separation block. Forks can be **planned** (to introduce improvements, correct errors, adjust the economic system or implement new functionalities) or **unplanned** (due to disagreements in the community, technical errors or attacks). They are also used as a mechanism for governance and evolution in decentralized networks, although their management can generate **risks of community fragmentation, duplication of assets and compatibility conflicts**. From a technical and economic perspective, forks are essential for the development and adaptation of blockchain systems, but they require coordination, consensus and transparent communication to avoid negative consequences. Learn more: [What Is Blockchain and How Does It Work? Types, Real Examples and Limits](/en/articulos/que-es-blockchain-y-como-funciona) ## Explained simply A **fork** is when a blockchain **splits into two different paths**, as if you came to an intersection and each group decided to follow their own route. Sometimes they reconcile, but other times each one goes on with their own version of the story, creating **two different cryptocurrencies** or two ways to operate. ## Fork: key points - It is a division of the protocol or block history of a blockchain - It can be a **soft fork** (compatible) or **hard fork** (not compatible) - Hard forks can create two different cryptocurrencies or networks - Allows you to update the system, correct faults or introduce new rules - It requires community consensus or can cause permanent divisions ## Fork: advantages - **It allows for technical evolution** of a blockchain network - **Fixes critical errors** or system vulnerabilities - **Facilitates scalability, security or governance improvements** - **It can give rise to new projects** with a different vision - **Community resistance mechanism** against centralized decisions or disagreements ## Fork: disadvantages - **Risk of community fragmentation and loss of trust** - **Duplication of assets** which can cause confusion in the market - **Increased vulnerability to attacks on new and insecure chains** - **Impact on interoperability and connected tools** - **Legal and trademark conflicts if the fork is not well managed** RELATED CONCEPTS [Blockchain](/en/glosario/blockchain) [Node](/en/glosario/nodo) [Cryptocurrency](/en/glosario/criptomoneda) [Token](/en/glosario/token) [Hash](/en/glosario/hash) KEEP LEARNING [What Is Blockchain and How Does It Work? Types, Real Examples and Limits](/en/articulos/que-es-blockchain-y-como-funciona) [How to protect your digital assets in the cryptocurrency world](/en/articulos/como-proteger-tus-activos-digitales-criptomonedas) [Comparison of smart contracts programming languages](/en/articulos/lenguajes-programacion-smart-contracts) RELATED SERVICES [Blockchain protocol development](/en/servicios/desarrollo-de-protocolos-blockchain) [Blockchain consulting for companies](/en/servicios/consultoria-blockchain) [Smart contract audit services](/en/servicios/blockchain-security-audits) [Web3 development services](/en/servicios/desarrollo-web3) [Whitepapers](/en/servicios/whitepapers) [Full glossary](/en/glosario) This entry is informative. It is not legal, tax or investment advice. The rules cited change: check the current version in each country’s official gazette (for Spain and the EU, [BOE](https://www.boe.es) and [EUR-Lex](https://eur-lex.europa.eu)).