A Bitcoin soft fork is a type of upgrade to the Bitcoin blockchain that is backwards compatible. This means that the upgrade does not require all nodes to update to the new version of the software, but instead allows the old and new versions to coexist peacefully.

A soft fork occurs when a developer introduces a change to the Bitcoin protocol that is backwards compatible. This can involve anything from introducing new features to changing the existing rules of the network. As long as the new rules are compatible with the old ones, the upgraded version will be accepted by the network.

Unlike a hard fork, which requires everyone to upgrade to the new version, a soft fork only requires a majority of miners to adopt the new version. This allows the network to continue operating without disrupting the existing infrastructure. In some cases, a soft fork can provide an improved user experience and allow for more efficient transactions.

Soft forks are an important part of the Bitcoin network’s evolution and are necessary to ensure that the network can continue to grow and improve. They allow the network to remain decentralized and secure while still introducing improvements that can benefit users.