Block explorer
A block explorer is a website where you can look up any transaction, address or block on a public blockchain: amount, fee, status and number of confirmations.
How it works
A blockchain is public, but reading it raw is awkward. A block explorer pulls data from a node and shows it in a readable form. Paste a transaction hash (TxID), a wallet address or a block number into the search box and you see every detail.
Each network has its own explorer: bitcoin transfers are looked up in a bitcoin explorer, Ethereum tokens in an Ethereum explorer, and so on. Explorers also show token contracts, holders, transfer history and current fees.
It is the main tool when "the money did not arrive". The explorer shows what the network says: whether the transfer happened, on which network, to which address and with how many confirmations. An exchange can delay crediting a deposit, but it cannot change the on-chain status.
The exchange says your 100 USDT withdrawal is complete, but your friend sees nothing. You copy the TxID from the withdrawal history into the explorer for that network. It shows Success, the recipient address matches and there are 12 confirmations. The coins are at the address, so your friend should check that their wallet is set to the right network.
A common mistake is searching on the wrong network or trusting a screenshot instead of a link. Scammers easily fake "payment confirmations". Check transfers yourself by TxID in the explorer for the exact network used, and remember that anyone who knows your address can see its entire history.
Questions and answers
What is a block explorer in simple terms?
It is a search engine for a blockchain. You can find any transfer or address and see everything that happened to it.
How do I find my transaction in a block explorer?
Copy the transaction hash (TxID) from your wallet or exchange history and paste it into the explorer for the network the transfer used.
Does a block explorer show who owns an address?
It shows no names, only the address and its history. But if the address was ever linked to you, for example through an exchange with KYC, the privacy is gone.
Related terms
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Updated: 2026-10-19