In the cryptocurrency ecosystem, block explorers have become indispensable allies for those who want to closely follow the activity of a network. Either to verify that a transaction reached destination, consult the commissions paid or even track connections between addresses, these tools offer a unique transparency that is hardly found in other financial systems.
In addition, each blockchain has its own reference explorers, which vary in depth of data, interface and advanced functions, which makes it important to choose the most appropriate according to the user’s needs. In this guide we explain how the explorers work and what to take into account when choosing them.
1 What is a block explorer?
A block explorer is an online tool that allows visually and interactive access to the complete history of transactions of a Blockchain. Its main function is to act as a specialized “search engine” for block chains, so that anyone can consult transactions, blocks, addresses, intelligent contracts and other public data of a network.
Recall that a blockchain stores data in a distributed structure, but these raw data are not easily navigable by most users. The block explorer occupies that space: it translates the complex cryptographic database in legible and accessible information.
2 How does an explorer work
The operation of a block explorer It is based on its direct connection with one or more Complete nodes of the network. These nodes contain an full copy of the blockchain and are responsible for validating each block and transaction. Through this connection, the explorer accesses the gross information that circulates in the network, including confirmed operations and pending transactions in the Mempool.
Once the data arrives at the explorer, starts The process of indexation and organization. Instead of consulting the network every time someone looks for a transaction, the explorer builds and maintains its own database. There keep the details of each block (height, hash, size, creation time) and each transaction (emitter, receiver, amount, commission, state). This allows you to offer results almost immediately, even to mass searches.
The management of these databases is key: They are designed to respond to fast consultations, such as tracing all direction operations or calculating network statistics in real time. From this architecture, the explorer can generate visualizations that facilitate interpretation of complex data, such as gas consumption in Ethereum or the activity of miners in Bitcoin.
All that information is presented in a Web interface intuitive, with search bars and organized panels. Thus, any user can track a specific block, follow a pending transaction or verify the balance of an address, without the need for advanced technical knowledge.
Finally, the explorers incorporate update modules in real timethat constantly synchronize its database with the blockchain. This ensures that users always have access to the most recent information. Some even add advanced functions such as address labels, developer APIs or NFTS visualization.
3 What data can you see in a block explorer?
- Date and time of the transaction: Time is shown through the Timestamp of the block that contains the transaction. In Bitcoin, for example, the temporary seal is placed by the miner when creating the block and explorers use it as a reference to show the registration time.
- Block height: The height of the block (height block) indicates the position of a block inside the chain, starting from the Genesis block (height 0). This numbering allows you to locate a transaction in the history and serves to calculate the number of subsequent confirmations.
- Transactions: In each block a list of transactions is included. Explorers show their unique identifier (TXID), directions involved, amounts, inputs and exits (Inputs/Outputs), as well as the paid commission.
- Confirmations: Confirmations They reflect How many blocks have been added after the transaction includes. The more confirmations it has, the more difficult it is to reverse the operation. By convention, in Bitcoin six confirmations are usually considered as high security reference.
- Amount of currencies: The explorer indicates the amount of cryptocurrencies transferred in each transaction, in addition to the paid commission. In blockchains compatible with tokens, such as Ethereum, the amounts of tokens ERC-20 or ERC-721 are also shown, with details of the corresponding contract.
- Miner: In work proof networks (Pow), the explorers record which miner or pool discovered the block. On the other hand, in participation test networks (POS) appears the validator or proponent of the block. This information helps identify which actors are providing more blocks to the network.
- Weight: The weight of a block is the technical measure of its size. In Bitcoin, since the adoption of Segwit, the metric of Block Weightwhich not only considers total bytes, but also how digital firms are stored.
4 Types of block explorers
Single chain explorers
Unique chain explorers are designed to exclusively analyze a blockchain. They offer very detailed information of that networksuch as the history of transactions, addresses, blocks, intelligent contracts and gas consumption. Being specialized, they usually have advanced tools that allow developers and users to deepen the internal functioning of that blockchain.
A prominent example is Etherscan, which has become the reference explorer for Ethereum, showing not only transactions, but also data on ERC-20 tokens, displayed contracts and Wallet activity.
Multichain explorers
Multichain explorers allow you to consult several blockchains from a single interface, which is especially useful for those who handle different cryptocurrencies or tokens. Unlike dedicated explorers, their strength is interoperability: they centralize information from various networks on the same platform, although with less depth than exclusive explorers of a single chain.
An example is blockchair, which allows Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and other blockchains to be explored, offering personalized searches and advanced statistics of each network.
Explorers specialized in Defi and Tokens
Explorers specialized in Defi and Tokens They are focused on the decentralized finance ecosystem. In addition to showing blocks and transactions, they provide specific tokens metrics, intelligent contracts, liquidity pools, prices and activity in decentralized exchanges. This makes them very attractive to traders and users seeking quick information about movements in defi markets.
An example is Dextoolswhich allows analyzing the behavior of ERC-20 tokens in Ethereum, showing real-time price graphics, volume of operations and liquidity on platforms such as UNISWAP or Sushiswap.
5 How to choose the right block explorer?
Information depth
The best explorer is the one that shows the highest possible level of detail: Full history of transactions, related addresses, intelligent contracts, paid commissions, validators/miners involved and any extra data in the operation (such as messages or interactions with contracts).
User interface
The way the information is presented is crucial. For example, Mempool.Space stands out with a very visual and intuitive interface (5/5 in usability), while other explorers tend to be more functional, but less graphics (3/5 on average).
Statistics and information tools
A good explorer not only list transactions, but also offers useful statistics: network use metrics, commissions (Fees or gas), mining or validators, confirmation times and graphics in real time.
NFT and metadata visualization
Some explorers allow identifying whether a transaction is not only monetary, but involves non -fungible tokens (NFT) or additional data. This is key to those who interact in ecosystems such as Ethereum or BNB Chain.
Transaction connections and analysis
The most advanced explorers allow us to see relationships between transactions, entities and addresses. Here are Blockchair and Arkham Intelligence, which offer connection graphs and contextual data on security or possible privacy risks.
Speed and reliability
Although speed is already taken for granted, what really brings confidence is reputation and trajectory. Explorers such as Etherscan or Blockchain.com have been working with millions of users for years, which supports their reliability.
6 The most popular block explorers in 2025
- Mempool.Space: It is an explorer specialized in the Bitcoin network, highly valued for its transparency and real -time monitoring tools. It allows to visualize the status of the Mempool, estimate commissions and follow blocks before they are confirmed.
- Arkham Intelligence: More than a traditional explorer, it works as a blockchain analysis platform that associates addresses with known entities. Its approach is transparency, offering data on capital flows and activities of great actors in different blockchains.
- Etherscan: It is the most popular explorer in Ethereum, widely used by both users and developers. It allows to consult transactions, intelligent contracts, ERC-20 tokens and NFT, in addition to network statistics.
- Ethplorer: It is focused on Ethereum tokens, offering simplified information about Balances, transfers and prices of ERC-20 assets. It is a light tool, ideal for those looking for fast data without the need for advanced functions.
- Blockchair: It is a multichain explorer that integrates several blockchains into a single interface, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. In addition to showing transactions and blocks, it includes advanced search filters and comparative statistics between networks.
If you want to learn more about issues related to blockchain explorers, we also invite you to read and share these articles of our cryptopedia:
What is a blockchain (block chain) and how does it work?
What is Bitcoin works?