Each Bitcoin node unilaterally enforces the protocol guidelines domestically. Bitcoin Core (and most different Bitcoin node software program) does not have an auto-update perform. Nodes solely replace when their operators select to put in a brand new model of the software program. Node operators resolve what they contemplate to be Bitcoin each time they select which model of the software program to run. Not updating to a model that implements new guidelines that breaks with established precepts of Bitcoin is the anticipated choice. Bitcoin’s community guidelines emerge from these particular person selections.
Subsequently, it’s unlikely that you’d succeed at convincing 17,000 of 18,000 nodes to run your forward-incompatible model. Even should you spin up 1000’s of latest nodes, the present nodes is not going to be influenced: they implement the foundations of their very own implementation. Even should you had been to persuade a majority to improve to your new model, a minority might keep on with the previous guidelines, the nodes following the previous guidelines would merely reject the primary block discovered by the brand new nodes and ban the peer for sending them invalid information. The networks would separate in two every time the brand new nodes revealed their first block.
Principally, it comes all the way down to: “I don’t care what guidelines your node accepts, my node enforces the foundations that I feel are Bitcoin.” I would rethink if I see proof that the financial majority rests with the brand new guidelines, however for above causes, I’d count on that the financial majority would keep on with the previous guidelines, similar to it did when BCH forked off.
