Introduction
Mastering Ethereum block explorers is one of the most critical steps to entering Web3. Despite the current bear market, many newcomers still struggle to interpret transaction details—evidenced by frequent "help me check this address" requests across communities. Ethereum block explorers reveal everything about transactions, contracts, and blocks, showcasing blockchain's transparency. Third-party tools (e.g., whale tracking, Gas fee monitors) all rely on APIs sourced from these explorers.
Core Features of Ethereum Block Explorer
Website: etherscan.io
For beginners, the three most frequently used features are:
- ETH Price & Gas Fees: Real-time market data.
- Address/Transaction Hash Search: Trace wallet assets or specific transactions.
👉 Learn how to decode wallet activity
Step 1: Querying Wallet Assets by Address
Example Address: 0x1ed3b397504a52fe86bda23cf3d4c016d680e8a9
Key Details Displayed:
- ERC-20 Tokens: 35 types, including 49 WETH and 1,920 LOOKS.
- ERC-721/NFTs: 100+ collections (e.g., 2 AZUKI, 3 Bored Ape Yacht Club).
Step 2: Analyzing Transactions via Hash
Example BAYC #9315 Sale:
- Last Transaction: 125 days ago (200 ETH on x2y2).
- Transaction Hash:
0x23d5461fa44ba47af4cbcf0712023ed08c43990d7f10491cd43336827a6e9c64
Breakdown:
- Basics: Hash, status (Success), block number, timestamp.
- Summary: BAYC sold for 200 ETH (95.52 WETH + 104.48 ETH).
Token Details:
- ERC-20: Combined payment to seller (0 fees due to x2y2 promotion).
- ERC-721: BAYC transferred to buyer.
- Gas Paid: 0.00159 ETH ($1.91 at $1,491.26/ETH).
Key Takeaways
- Monitor ETH Price & Gas Fees.
- Track Wallet Holdings via addresses.
- Audit Transactions using hashes.
This guide covers foundational skills—stay tuned for advanced queries!
FAQs
Q: Can I search non-ETH wallet addresses?
A: Yes! Etherscan supports 200+ EVM chains (e.g., Polygon, BSC).
Q: Why does a transaction show "Pending"?
A: Low gas fees or network congestion may delay confirmations.
Q: Are deleted transactions visible?
A: No—only confirmed transactions are recorded on-chain.