Etherscan is known as Ethereum’s leading block explorer. It is essentially a search engine that lets users look up, confirm and validate transactions on the Ethereum decentralized smart contracts platform. By entering an address into the search box, you can view the balance, value, and all the transactions made through that address.^[1][2][3]

Etherscan is a verified Brave (web browser) publisher.

Overview

Etherscan was founded in 2015 by Matthew Tan who is the CEO and Founder.
Etherscan hosts a collection of web-based tools for exploring the public Ethereum network, based on the transactions that have been confirmed on the Ethereum blockchain. As a blockchain explorer, Etherscan can only provide and display information on transactions that occur on the Ethereum blockchain.

The team behind Etherscan created the platform as an independent entity whose mission is to facilitate blockchain transparency. Etherscan is not wallet service provider, it does not store people’s private keys and it has no control over the transactions that take place over the Ethereum network. It is also unable to troubleshoot transaction failures. ^[4]

Use of Etherscan

Etherscan is a useful resource for all Ethereum Network users to track transactions, check smart contracts, find out stats, and generally stay on top of what's happening in the Ethereum blockchain. It's free to use and users don't have to register to use the main features.

Users can register and create an account in Etherscan. Normal users can add an address to the “watch list” and be notified by email for an incoming transfer transaction. Developers can access a set of API services that can be used to either build decentralized applications or serve as data feeds for Ethereum blockchain information. ^[5]

Since Etherscan doesn’t provide wallet services or have access to private keys, addresses on the watch list can only be used for portfolio tracking or monitoring. To send or transfer Ether or tokens from an account, users will need a compatible wallet such as Ethereum Wallet, Parity Wallet, MyEtherWallet or Metamask.

Exploring Ethereum addresses

One can use Etherscan to search all transaction histories, including token transfer and contract execution, of any address at Etherscan.io. Simply paste an address into the search bar and the address details will appear. ^[6]

Etherscan provides information on the balance of ETH at the address, its current value in US dollars, and the total number of transactions made to and from the address.

The transactions tab displays all the transactions that have gone in and out of the address. For each transaction, Etherscan lists information such as the TxHash (transaction hash or transaction ID), the number of the block in which the transaction was recorded, the duration of time since the transaction was confirmed, who it was from and to, the value being transacted, and the total transaction fee.

Etherscan also has a “gas price tracker”, which is useful because the Ethereum network can suffer congestion problems. Congestion drives up gas prices, increases transaction costs and results in some transactions failing. The lower the gas price, the less expensive it is to run and use decentralized applications, so by checking the gas price tracker it’s possible to adjust the gas fee before confirming a transaction.^[8]

Checking a TxHash

A TxHash can be used to track and trace the status of a transaction. Once you’ve pasted the TxHash into the search bar, a series of transaction details will appear. These include the TxReceipt status – for example: whether the transaction was successfully sent or failed; the block height (the number of the block in which the transaction was recorded); the value of the transaction; the exact units of gas that were used; the actual cost; and the number of the transaction sent from the sender’s address.

Fund withdrawal

• Upload / Paste your Keystore file / Private Key to access your wallet.
• Press big red button
• Confirm that you are sure you want to withdraw
• Wait a couple seconds and 2 transaction links will appear. Wait about 30 more seconds and check the balance of your account on Etherscan^[10]

Team

• Matthew Tan (CEO/Founder & Dev)
• Wee Chuan (Operations Manager)
• Pauline (Office Manager)
• Khairul (Software Engineering Manager)
• HanShi (Dev Ops)
• Ming Lee (Biz Dev)
• Kaven (Growth Hacking and Community)
• Darren (System Engineer)
• Elvis (Product & Strategy)
• Jaha Ganiev (UI/UX Developer)
• Chandru (Software Developer)
• Raja Amiruddin (Community & Education)
• Zhi Kuang (Software Developer)
• Caleb Lau (Software Developer)
• Harith Kamarul (Community and Education)
• Chee Chyuan (Software Developer)
• Mandy (Content Writer)
• Brayton Williams (Team Advisor)^[7]

Etherscan Acquires Solscan

On January 3, 2023, Etherscan acquired Solscan, a leading block explorer operating within the Solana ecosystem. The move is geared towards advancing the accessibility of blockchain data across various networks. The acquisition plan includes the integration of valuable features on both Etherscan and Solscan platforms, aiming for a collaborative enhancement in user experience. ^[11]

“The Solscan team has proven their expertise over the years by offering detailed insights and analytics. Their expertise in making blockchain data accessible and user-friendly also aligns perfectly with our mission at Etherscan,” said Matthew Tan, CEO and founder of Etherscan. - Matthew Tan, CEO and founder of Etherscan. ^[12]

Solscan was established in 2021 and has accumulated a substantial user base of over 3 million monthly users with comprehensive data services, encompassing addresses, token data, and transaction information. ^[11][13]

In its newsletter released on 3, January 2023, the Solscan team emphasized the significance of the acquisition as a noteworthy development in the field of blockchain exploration.

"The integration of Solscan into the Etherscan ecosystem marks a positive step forward for both platforms. Users can expect a collaborative effort to deliver unparalleled blockchain exploration services and a commitment to advancing the capabilities of both Etherscan and Solscan." - Solscan Substack post^[13]