What is Breaking?
Breaking, or breaking of the blockchain, is the process of splitting up a blockchain into smaller, separate parts. Breaking can be done either intentionally or unintentionally, due to a coding mistake or an attack.
An intentional break of the blockchain occurs when a user or a group of users decide to split the chain into two or more parts. This is done in order to optimize the blockchain and create a more efficient system. The splitting of the chain is done by changing the consensus rules or by introducing a new blockchain protocol. It is important to note that when the chain is broken, it does not necessarily mean that the data stored on the chain is lost.
Breaking of the blockchain can also occur unintentionally, as a result of a coding or programming mistake or an attack. This type of break is known as a “hard fork” and it involves completely splitting the chain into two distinct chains. The chain that was created first is known as the “legacy chain”, while the new chain is known as the “alternative chain”.
Breaking the blockchain can have both positive and negative effects on the blockchain ecosystem. On one hand, a hard fork can create more efficient systems and open up opportunities for developers to experiment with new protocols and technologies. On the other hand, it can also lead to instability in the network, as the two chains may not be able to communicate with each other, or even worse, cause a blockchain split.
Simplified Example
Imagine you're playing a game of Jenga, where each block represents a block in a blockchain. When you remove a block, it affects the stability of the whole tower. Similarly, when a block in a blockchain is "broken," it means that the information stored within that block has been altered in some way. This can cause problems with the overall integrity and stability of the blockchain.
History of the Term Breaking
The term "breaking" gained prominence in the early days of blockchain technology, as developers and researchers grappled with the intricacies of these emerging systems. As the complexity of blockchain protocols and smart contracts increased, the need for specialized techniques to analyze and break them became more evident.
Breaking has played a crucial role in the development and security of blockchain technology. By identifying and addressing vulnerabilities early on, developers have been able to strengthen the security of blockchain protocols and protect users' funds.
Examples
Ethereum Classic (ETC) - Ethereum Classic is a cryptocurrency that was created as a result of a hard fork of the Ethereum blockchain in 2016. The fork was initiated after a bug in the DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) smart contract was exploited, leading to the loss of millions of dollars worth of ether.
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) - Bitcoin Cash is a cryptocurrency that was created as a result of a hard fork of the Bitcoin blockchain in 2017. The fork was initiated in order to increase the block size limit from 1MB to 8MB, in order to increase the speed and scalability of the network.
Bitcoin Gold (BTG) - Bitcoin Gold is a cryptocurrency that was created as a result of a hard fork of the Bitcoin blockchain in 2017. The fork was initiated in order to make mining more accessible to individual miners, by changing the mining algorithm from SHA-256 to Equihash, which can be mined using standard GPUs.