<p>Most difficult (highest) chain wins. Side chains are stored forever just in case they become valid again. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-22T01:49:49.843Z
Isn't the storing of the side chains implementation depndent?
placeybordeaux
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-05-25T13:35:10.453Z
[@placeybordeaux](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/30137/tie-breaking-in-bitcoin-transaction#comment36561_30164) The storing of the side chains are implementation dependent. The protocol can't enforce you to store or not side chains.
Benjamin Loison
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-22T13:59:13.363Z
2014-08-22T13:59:13.363Z
Guest
<blockquote>
  <p>If two nodes broadcast different versions of the next block simultaneously , some nodes may receive one or the other first. In that case, they work on the first one they received but save the other branch in case it becomes longer. The tie will be broken when the next proof-of-work is found and one branch becomes longer;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I got this information from the original publication about Bitcoin. But how long is this second branch saved in memory pool of nodes? How is this conflict resolved actually? Is there any paper mentioning this? </p>

<transactions><blockchain>
Tie Breaking in bitcoin transaction
user123
# Tie Breaking in bitcoin transaction

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-08-21)

> If two nodes broadcast different versions of the next block simultaneously , some nodes may receive one or the other first. In that case, they work on the first one they received but save the other branch in case it becomes longer. The tie will be broken when the next proof-of-work is found and one branch becomes longer;

I got this information from the original publication about Bitcoin. But how long is this second branch saved in memory pool of nodes? How is this conflict resolved actually? Is there any paper mentioning this?

**Tags:** transactions, blockchain


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-08-22. Score: 1

Most difficult (highest) chain wins. Side chains are stored forever just in case they become valid again.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Isn't the storing of the side chains implementation depndent?  
> **username_3**: [@username_2](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/30137/tie-breaking-in-bitcoin-transaction#comment36561_30164) The storing of the side chains are implementation dependent. The protocol can't enforce you to store or not side chains.  

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