How to Use Etherscan

About

Etherscan requires no account and no setup — just visit etherscan.io and start searching. The search bar on the homepage accepts transaction hashes, wallet addresses, block numbers, token contract addresses, and ENS names (.eth domains). This guide covers the most common Etherscan use cases from the simplest (checking a transaction) to the more advanced (reading smart contract code and monitoring whale wallets).

// etherscan.facts

TypeBlockchain Explorer

ChainEthereum (+ L2s)

CostFree

Total Txns Indexed3.14B+

Daily Txns~1.55M

Monthly Visitors~6M

Gas TrackerReal-time

Contract VerifyYes (free)

ERC-20 TokensAll indexed

API AccessFree + Pro tiers

Features

What You Can Do with Etherscan

The most complete Ethereum blockchain explorer — transactions, wallets, tokens, contracts, gas, and analytics all in one place.

1️⃣

Transaction Lookup

[01]

Paste TXID to verify confirmation, sender, recipient, value, and gas paid.

2️⃣

Wallet Address

[02]

Enter any address to see balance, tokens held, and full transaction history.

3️⃣

Gas Tracker

[03]

Check current gas prices before sending transactions on Ethereum mainnet.

4️⃣

Token Research

[04]

Find any ERC-20 token by contract address to see supply, holders, and recent transfers.

5️⃣

Smart Contracts

[05]

Read verified contract code and check if a project\'s contract source has been verified.

6️⃣

Watchlist

[06]

Create a free account to monitor specific wallets and receive email alerts.

Guide

How to Use How to Use Etherscan

Etherscan requires no account or login — just visit etherscan.io and start exploring.

01

Find a Transaction

Paste your transaction hash (TXID) into the search bar. You will see: Status (Success/Failed/Pending), Block number, Timestamp, From/To addresses, Value in ETH, Gas used, and Gas price paid.

02

Look Up a Wallet

Enter any Ethereum address. You will see: ETH balance, all tokens held, complete transaction history, and internal transactions (contract interactions).

03

Check Gas Before Sending

Visit the Gas Tracker (linked in the main navigation). It shows current Slow/Standard/Fast gas prices in Gwei. Use "Standard" for normal urgency, "Fast" for time-sensitive transactions.

04

Verify a Token Contract

Before buying an unknown token, search its contract address on Etherscan. Check: Is the source code verified (green checkmark)? How many holders? Is there a recent audit link?

05

Read a Smart Contract

On any contract page, click the "Contract" tab. If verified, you see the readable source code. Click "Read Contract" to query current state variables like token balances or pool reserves.

FAQ

Questions About How to Use Etherscan

How do I track my Ethereum transaction on Etherscan?

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When you make an Ethereum transaction, your wallet provides a transaction hash (TXID) — a 66-character string starting with "0x". Paste this hash into the Etherscan search bar at etherscan.io. You will see the transaction status (pending/success/failed), gas fees paid, and confirmation details.

How do I find my wallet on Etherscan?

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Your Ethereum wallet has a public address — a 42-character string starting with "0x". Paste this address into the Etherscan search bar. It shows your current ETH balance, all tokens you hold, and your complete transaction history.

How do I read the Etherscan gas tracker?

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The Etherscan Gas Tracker shows current gas prices in Gwei for three speed tiers: Slow (cheapest, 5-10 minute confirmation), Standard (moderate price, 1-3 minutes), and Fast (highest price, next block). Multiply by 21,000 (simple ETH transfer) to calculate the gas cost in ETH.

What does "pending" mean on Etherscan?

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Pending means your transaction has been broadcast to the Ethereum network but not yet included in a confirmed block. This usually takes 15-30 seconds under normal conditions. If pending for more than a few minutes, your gas price may be too low for current network demand.

How do I verify a smart contract on Etherscan?

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A contract is verified if its source code has been submitted to Etherscan and matches what is deployed on-chain. Look for a green checkmark next to "Contract" on the contract\'s page. Verified contracts show readable source code; unverified contracts only show bytecode.

Reviews

What Users Say

First Transaction Tracker

★★★★★

"Used this guide to track my first ETH transfer from Coinbase. Pasted the TXID, saw it go from Pending to Confirmed, and understood every field on the page. Took 10 minutes to go from confused to confident with Etherscan."

DeFi Safety Check

★★★★★

"Now check the Etherscan contract verification status on every protocol before depositing. The combination of verified source code and looking at token holder concentration has saved me from several scam tokens."

Gas Saver

★★★★☆

"Bookmarked the gas tracker and check it before every mainnet transaction. Waiting for gas to drop from 80 gwei to 25 gwei on a Tuesday morning saved me $40 on a large transfer. Simple tool, real money saved."

How to Use Etherscan — Complete Guide