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If someone forked the code without changing any of the fundamental properties and connected nodes / miners, could they not disrupt the main (original chain)?
Can two bitcoin chains co-exist if one copied the code and ran a parallel chain?
Answers
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Yes, this is currently happening. There are many different implementations of the Bitcoin protocol. You can see here the a graph of how many people are currently using different implementations.
1running a different implementation does not necessarily mean that you have a different chain. – JBaczuk – 2019-06-24T02:01:57.213
thanks this is helpful. I am researching for an article and just want to cover my bases. kudos. – Lets Talk Crypto – 2019-06-24T06:07:50.583
4What exactly would they change? What do you mean by "disrupt"? – Nate Eldredge – 2019-06-23T15:28:38.287
1I agree with Nate, you'll need to be more specific what remains the same and what changes to be able to get a good answer. For example, do you count the "Genesis Block" among the fundamental properties? Does the forked version use different ports, network magic, etc.? – Murch – 2019-06-23T21:35:30.827
1if the forked nodes are able to communicate with original nodes (for block propagation), and the rules are all the same, then you would be on the same chain. – JBaczuk – 2019-06-24T02:03:53.047
So what I mean is this, Bitcoin in its current form running chain A, then someone comes along and runs a new version but from the genesis block again, so from 0 TX onwards without previous history. Would this not upset the current chain if the nodes connected to the same network or would the existing nodes simply reject it ? – Lets Talk Crypto – 2019-06-24T06:06:42.537