Soft Fork

A soft fork is a change to a blockchain’s rules that makes certain previously valid transactions invalid, but older versions of the software still recognize and accept the new rules. Think of it as a partial upgrade that improves the system while maintaining compatibility with earlier software. This allows most participants to adapt gradually without requiring all users to upgrade simultaneously. Soft forks are often used to enhance security or efficiency with minimal disruption, as they enforce stricter conditions while still being compatible with existing infrastructure.