How to Use a Blockchain Explorer – Bitpie Wallet

Most people have used browsers, like Google Chrome or 360 Browser…

We use browsers primarily to search for specific information on the internet. For example, open a browser, type in bitpie.com, and magically find Bitpie.

Through browsers, we can access all the information we need in our daily lives, providing us with enough security and certainty.

But in the blockchain world—

"Where did my coins go?" "Why didn't I receive the transaction you sent me?" "Where is this transaction now?" These kinds of confusing questions have become the norm for most users.

So, how can you feel confident and secure in the blockchain world?

“Lend me a pair of discerning eyes, so I can see clearly through the chaos...” (Does this song reveal my age?)

Today, we're talking about blockchain explorers, which can be your "discerning eyes" in the blockchain world. With them, you can see through 90% of the confusion and deception in the crypto space.

What is a blockchain explorer?

First, a "blockchain" is essentially a database, characterized by its transparency and traceability. So, how can we conveniently view the various public data on the blockchain? This is where blockchain explorers come in.

A blockchain explorer is essentially a website that allows you to query blockchain data. Through it, you can view transaction details, network status, and everything else about blockchain data.

What can you do with a blockchain explorer?

There is an abundance of information you can query with a blockchain explorer, such as newly mined blocks, transactions within those blocks, the rewards given for new blocks, and much more interesting content.

Market software sometimes alerts users when a large address moves 10,000 BTC to an exchange. This is essentially a program monitoring blockchain data, similar to manually querying data using a blockchain explorer.

However, for ordinary users, the most common and helpful use is to check the status of transactions, such as whether a transaction has been sent or confirmed by the blockchain.

For example, if you withdraw 1 coin from Exchange A to your wallet, but it doesn't show up in your wallet, while the exchange shows the withdrawal as successful...

In such situations, using a blockchain explorer can quickly reveal the real status of the transaction. It can show whether the transaction was actually sent, or if the problem lies with the exchange or the wallet.

How to use a blockchain explorer?

As mentioned, for ordinary users, the most common and helpful use of a blockchain explorer is to check the status of transactions. Let's focus on how to check the status of a transaction.

First, let's explain a term: transaction ID (also called transaction hash). This is the key to checking the transaction status. Each transaction has a unique transaction ID, similar to an ID card. With it, we can find the corresponding unique transaction.

Here is an example of a transaction ID:

160c42ce6cfe0f1bd3fbdb220b7655b0e848061f759c6dc38eb06f6d206f3c51

You can usually see such a string of characters in the details after sending coins from a wallet or withdrawing from an exchange.

With the transaction ID, you can navigate the blockchain explorer. Just enter the transaction ID in the search box of the blockchain explorer, and you can check many details about the transaction.

After checking, you'll have the confidence to address issues with the exchange or wallet. If the exchange's ID cannot be found, it's the exchange's problem. If the blockchain confirms the transaction but the wallet doesn't show it, it's the wallet's problem. Always rely on blockchain data; don't easily forgive wallet developers because they're likeable.

Here are some other situations:

If you can't find the transaction ID, it usually means the transaction hasn't been broadcast by the sender yet. If the blockchain shows the transaction but the wallet doesn't, it generally means the wallet has synchronization issues with the blockchain data. The wallet is just a tool for reading blockchain data, so display issues won't affect security. If the blockchain confirms the transaction, your assets are secure.

(Exposing the transaction ID doesn't pose a security risk, but it might compromise privacy since others can also query your transaction details using the ID. Decide based on your situation whether to share the transaction ID.)

Are blockchain explorers safe?

Blockchain explorers, being ordinary websites that only provide data search functionality, are as safe as the (healthy) websites you usually browse. They don't involve your blockchain assets' security.

However, a word of caution: if any website asks you to enter your recovery phrase or private key, close it immediately and curse it out for respect.

Does every coin have its own blockchain explorer?

No. Blockchain explorers need to be developed individually. Some are developed by project teams, while others are developed by third-party teams or supporters.

As a result, some niche projects may not have blockchain explorers.

Additionally, most tokens on the market are issued on platforms like Ethereum or EOS. The blockchain explorers for Ethereum and EOS can be used to query these tokens as well.

Are blockchain explorers completely reliable?

No. Blockchain explorers are just tools and can have issues. If you suspect the data you're viewing is incorrect, it's a good idea to cross-check it on multiple blockchain explorers.