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Block explorer

A block explorer is an online search tool for a blockchain. It lets you view public data, such as transactions and wallet addresses.

Last updated • 2 min read
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What is a block explorer?

A blockchain stores transactions in blocks. A block explorer retrieves this public information and makes it searchable.

For example, you can search by wallet address or transaction ID. You can then see whether a transaction is still pending, has been included in a block, or has been confirmed. You can often also see the transaction fees paid.

The information can be difficult for beginners to understand. Privacy is also limited: the history of a wallet address is public. An explorer is also an external website, so it may temporarily be out of date or offline.

An example of a block explorer

You send Bitcoin to a friend, but they don’t see the amount in their crypto wallet yet. You paste the transaction ID into a block explorer for the Bitcoin network.

There, you can see whether the transaction is still in the queue or has been confirmed. This lets you check its status yourself, rather than relying only on the wallet.

Why is a block explorer important in crypto?

A block explorer helps you check for yourself what’s happening on a blockchain. This is useful when you want to find out whether a transaction went through or how much you paid in fees.

Crypto news may use this kind of tool to investigate public wallet activity or transactions after a hack. That doesn’t automatically reveal who is behind a wallet address: you mainly see the public activity of that address.

Each explorer is for a specific network. So you can’t look up a transaction on Solana with an explorer for Bitcoin.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. The information provided may be incomplete, inaccurate, or outdated and should not be relied upon as such. Nothing on this website should be considered a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any cryptocurrency. Investing in crypto-assets involves risk of loss.