Idiom idiom
Hard Fork
Meaning
A protocol change that is incompatible with previous versions, often splitting off a separate blockchain.
Examples
“The community split after the hard fork.”
“Bitcoin Cash was created through a hard fork of the original Bitcoin blockchain.”
“Because a hard fork is not backward-compatible, every node must upgrade or be stranded on an abandoned chain.”
Origin
disputed origin
disputed origin
Hard signals that adopting the new rules is mandatory.
Last updated July 19, 2026