1. How does the forking process work for Bitcoin Atom, and what steps are taken to ensure a smooth transition for users and nodes when a hard fork occurs?
2. Does Bitcoin Atom support smart contracts or other types of decentralized applications (dApps)? If so, what types of applications could be built on top of the Bitcoin Atom network?
1. *Forking Process:* The Bitcoin Atom team takes a proactive approach to forking by keeping the codebase hidden and implementing measures to prevent malicious hard forks.This approach prioritizes security and stability, which can be beneficial for the long-term sustainability of the network.
2. *Smart Contracts:* While Bitcoin Atom may not directly support smart contracts, its HTLC API could enable the development of decentralized exchanges and other applications that utilize atomic swaps. This could allow users to conduct peer-to-peer exchanges of different cryptocurrencies without the need for intermediaries, which could lead to greater financial autonomy and efficiency. Additionally, as the technology develops, it's possible that the Bitcoin Atom network could be extended to support other types of dApps in the future.