WHY DO BLOCKCHAINS ALWAYS END UP FORKING?

The case of Ethereum and Fusaka

Ethereum is preparing for a new update called Fusaka. As always happens with networks of this calibre, there is talk of forks. But beyond the headlines, the real question arises: why do all blockchains end up forking sooner or later?

Far from being a failure, forks are a natural consequence of how blockchains are designed: open, decentralised and constantly evolving.

What is a fork in Blockchain?

In simple terms, a fork is a change in the protocol that governs a network. When a modification is introduced in the consensus rules (i.e., in the ‘instruction manual’ followed by all nodes), some may adopt the new version and others may not.

This gives rise to two scenarios:

1º.- Soft Fork: Backward-compatible update.
Example: in Ethereum, EIP-1559, which reformed the mechanics of commissions without splitting the network.

2º.- Hard Fork: Incompatible update that creates two different chains.
Example: the split of Ethereum Classic (ETC) after The DAO hack in 2016.

In both cases, we are talking about a technical and community decision that reflects the living nature of a blockchain.

Why do forks occur?

There are many reasons, but they usually revolve around five axes:

1.- Technological evolution
As the number of users and transactions grows, demands for scalability, speed and energy efficiency arise. For example, Ethereum’s leap to Proof of Stake (with ‘The Merge’) was a hard fork that changed the consensus engine of the entire network.

2.- Security
Vulnerabilities in smart contracts or in the protocol itself require quick responses. A fork can patch a critical flaw before it becomes a systemic attack.

3.- Community disagreement
If part of the community rejects a change, it may decide to keep the original rules and follow a different path. Bitcoin Cash was born out of an irreconcilable difference over block size in Bitcoin.

4.- Decentralised governance
In systems without single leaders, the only way to introduce changes is for the community to reach consensus. If this does not happen, the door is open for a fork.

5. — Ideological differences
Beyond the technical aspects, different visions of the network’s philosophy often carry weight: more scalability, even if it implies partial centralisation, or more decentralisation at the expense of speed?

The case of Ethereum and Fusaka

Ethereum is perhaps the blockchain that has successfully undergone the most forks. Each major update (from Byzantium to Shanghai) has incorporated structural changes that have sustained its growth as a smart contract network.

With Fusaka, Ethereum seeks to optimise several key aspects:

1.- Greater efficiency in block verification.

2.- Adjustments to commission and gas management.

3.- Preparation for future scalability phases, such as more advanced integration with rollups and sharding.

What is interesting here is that Ethereum uses the mechanism of scheduled hard forks: the community agrees in advance on the exact block where the update will be applied. This way, the transition is orderly and the nodes have time to update, minimising the risk of unwanted fragmentation.

Why do all networks end up forking?

Because that’s how decentralised systems work:

• Software requires constant updates to avoid becoming obsolete.
• There will always be groups that do not share the same vision and decide to go their own way.
• Blockchains are environments of continuous innovation, and every step forward requires adjustments that sometimes not everyone accepts.

In this sense, forks are not an anomaly: they are a sign that the network is alive and evolving.

Conclusion

Forking is much more than just a ‘split’ in a network; it is the mechanism of evolution for Web3. Ethereum, with Fusaka, demonstrates that staying at the forefront of technology requires profound, consensual, and sometimes risky changes.

The next time you read about a fork, don’t see it as a conflict, but as an opportunity. Each fork represents a new chapter in the history of decentralisation.

Disclaimer: The information set forth herein should not be taken as financial advice or investment recommendation. All investments and trading involve risk and it is the responsibility of each individual to do his or her due diligence before making a decision.