What is Etherscan and how to use it?
Etherscan is a free, independent blockchain explorer for Ethereum. Launched in 2015, it lets anyone look up wallet balances, transaction status, smart contracts, and token data by entering an address, transaction hash, or ENS name - no account, wallet connection, or fee required.
Etherscan is one of the most popular blockchain explorers for the Ethereum network. Launched in 2015 by founder Matthew Tan, Etherscan operates independently of the Ethereum Foundation, functioning purely as a public information layer for the network - it does not custody funds or issue tokens. It gives Ethereum users access to transactions (both incoming and outgoing), blocks, wallet addresses and other on-chain data. Etherscan was created to foster blockchain transparency, watering down the need for an intermediary since users can access whatever data they are looking for themselves. With Etherscan, users can understand how the interaction between the blockchain, wallets and decentralized applications (DApps) occurs. Relying on the blockchain explorer, users can identify activities that look suspicious on their wallet address.
Etherscan keeps track of all the activities that occur on the Ethereum blockchain. It functions as a search engine for on-chain data on Ethereum, enabling users to discover, confirm and validate transactions. By pasting a wallet address on the search box, a user can confirm the available balance in ETH on such an address as well as the transactions that have been executed through it. Etherscan can be used for a whole lot of other functions such as checking gas fees, searching for ongoing and upcoming airdrops, scouring through a smart contract's code to detect bugs. Ethereum blockchain witnesses millions of transactions daily stemming from activities in the decentralized finance and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) space. Despite the plethora of activities that take place on the blockchain, blockchain explorers take note of them. Thus, it is very easy for a user of the Ethereum blockchain to see the transactions executed without ever visiting the blockchain itself. Having an idea of how transactions are stored on the blockchain is a huge advantage. Etherscan is a great place to start from. You don't need to connect your wallet or sign up for an account before using Etherscan.
What is Etherscan?
Etherscan is a block explorer and analytics platform that allows users to access transactions, smart contracts, addresses and others on the Ethereum blockchain publicly and in real time. With a tool like Etherscan, the aim of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies to decentralize finance is achieved. If users can access intricate details of their transactions through Etherscan, something that is hardly possible in traditional finance, then finance has been truly decentralized. Aside from using a wallet address, users can obtain on-chain data with the transaction hash (TXID) - a unique combination of letters and numbers that accompanies every transaction.
Is Etherscan a Wallet or Exchange?
No. Etherscan does not provide wallet services, store users' private keys, or facilitate trading activities. It only serves as a public repository of blockchain information. While Etherscan does not require signing up, creating an account on it gives a user access to extra services.
How Does Etherscan Work?
Etherscan works like a search engine for the Ethereum blockchain: you enter an identifier, and it returns everything recorded on-chain for it, at no cost and without connecting a wallet. You can search using:
- Wallet address - view ETH balance, token holdings, and full transaction history
- Transaction hash (TXID) - confirm status, block height, gas paid, and sender/receiver addresses
- Contract address - inspect verified source code, token supply, and holder distribution
- ENS name (e.g., name.eth) - resolve a human-readable Ethereum name to its wallet address
- Block number - view every transaction included in a specific block
What Can You Do With Etherscan? (Key Features and Uses)
Etherscan has several utilities as a blockchain explorer. Its use case is beyond obtaining details of a transaction. While it is not mandatory to know the other utilities of Etherscan, having an idea of them might come in handy one day.
Track Wallets and Transactions
On the block explorer, users with accounts can add their addresses to the 'watch list' to monitor or track their portfolios. They are also notified of every incoming transfer transaction via email. Etherscan also offers API services that developers can take advantage of to build decentralized applications. For each transaction, whether incoming and outgoing, Etherscan displays the following information: transaction hash, the number of blocks within which the transaction was recorded, the time at which the transaction was confirmed, the address of the sender as well as the receiver, gas fee, the amount sent and the total transaction fee More often than not, transaction fees vary due to high activity traffic on the Ethereum blockchain. In most cases, it is usually high.
A transaction hash (TXID) is useful for confirming the status of a transaction. It works the same way as an address as you just have to enter the hash into the search box on Etherscan and then you can get details of the particular transaction with the hash. These include whether the transaction failed or not; the transaction's block height, its value amongst others. With this, users can avoid transactions where they may likely be scammed, especially when dealing with another individual.
Spot High-Risk and Scam Tokens
Etherscan also helps users in ascertaining the amount of liquidity that a token has. This is necessary because there have been several rugpull scams in the past where users buy a token that has its liquidity locked for a short period and they are not able to sell it. With the blockchain explorer, users can identify how much supply of a token is being held by the team behind the token or by other users. If a small number of wallets hold a very large share of a token's supply, a large sell-off by those holders can put significant downward pressure on the price. Essentially, checking holder concentration on Etherscan is one way to assess risk before interacting with a new token or investment within the Ethereum ecosystem.
Verify Smart Contracts Before You Interact
Beyond checking bugs, Etherscan flags contracts that have published and verified their source code with a green checkmark, so you can read exactly what a contract does before approving a transaction and use the Token Approvals tool to review or revoke permissions you no longer want active.
Check Gas Fees in Real Time
Etherscan also has a feature for tracking gas prices on the network. Gas cost is often a big challenge on the Ethereum network. This is usually worse during periods of congestion, which also leads to transaction failure. Employing the gas price tracking tool on Etherscan, users can adjust the gas fee to one that will be enough to send a transaction.
Access Market Data and the Etherscan API
Etherscan provides users with several other details such as the price of Ethereum, its circulating supply, transaction history chart, address growth chart, and mining information. Etherscan also offers API services that developers can take advantage of to build decentralized applications. As of 2026, the Etherscan API extends beyond Ethereum alone, covering data across 60+ EVM-compatible chains through a single unified API key.
It is also important to note as an Etherscan user that only token built according to the ERC20 standard- the Ethereum blockchain's standard for token creation- can be checked on the blockchain explorer.
Etherscan vs. Other Blockchain Explorers
Etherscan only indexes activity on the Ethereum mainnet. Every other EVM-compatible network has its own dedicated explorer, built and maintained separately:
- BscScan - for BNB Smart Chain
- Polygonscan - for Polygon
- SnowTrace - for Avalanche
- Solscan / SolanaFM - for Solana
If you're checking a token or transaction and it isn't showing up on Etherscan, confirm which chain it lives on first — this is one of the most common sources of confusion for new users.
Conclusion
Etherscan is an important tool for cryptocurrency investors and enthusiasts. The crypto sector is largely unregulated, as such, it is quite easy for bad actors to prey on unsuspecting investors by issuing tokens with either low or temporary liquidity aimed at defrauding them. The blockchain explorer provides more information than your wallet or exchange can show thereby enabling you to escape crypto scams. Another benefit is that using Etherscan comes at no cost; it is entirely free.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is Etherscan?
Answer: Etherscan is a free blockchain explorer for Ethereum that lets anyone search transactions, wallet addresses, smart contracts, and token transfers - no account needed.
Q2: How does Etherscan help users track and verify Ethereum transactions?
Answer: Enter a transaction hash or wallet address to view status, block confirmations, ETH value, and timestamp - eliminating reliance on any third party for settlement confirmation.
Q3: What information does Etherscan display for each transaction?
Answer: Each transaction page shows the TxID, sender/recipient addresses, ETH amount, gas fee, block number, timestamp, and status - including ERC-20 token contract details for token transfers.
Q4: How can Etherscan be used to identify and avoid crypto scams?
Answer: Check for a verified contract (green tick), review source code, and inspect the Holders tab for wallet concentration. Use the Token Approvals checker to revoke suspicious permissions. Traders on Delta Exchange can use this to verify on-chain activity before moving funds.
Q5: How does Etherscan help users monitor gas fees on the Ethereum network?
Answer: Etherscan's Gas Tracker shows real-time low, average, and fast gas prices in Gwei, refreshed every ~13 seconds - useful for timing large transactions during off-peak hours to cut costs.