What is Etherscan?

According to Etherscan, it is “the leading block explorer for the Ethereum Blockchain. A block explorer is a search engine that allows users to easily look up, confirm, and validate transactions that have taken place on the Ethereum Blockchain.”

While Etherscan is an explorer for the Ethereum Blockchain, it is not created by the Ethereum Foundation.

Matthew Tan is the CEO and founder of Etherscan. Tan also founded Token Based Blockchain explorer Blockscan for Counterparty, a smart contracts blockchain built on top of Bitcoin.

What is Etherscan used for?

Etherscan allows users to explore data on the Ethereum blockchain by collecting real-time transaction updates and information about the network and smart contracts. The tool is a one-stop shop for aggregated data and can be used by anyone from developers to NFT fans.

Search functionality

Etherscan lets users search for addresses. These addresses display things like transaction history, token balances, and interactions with smart contracts. Similarly to search engines, there's a search bar where users can type out the transaction or hash keys they are looking for.

Transaction tracking

Etherscan's functionality lets users view and track transactions in real time. Users can see details such as transaction hash, sender and receiver addresses, gas fees, and transaction status.

Smart contract analysis

Users can view smart contracts' source code, bytecode, and transaction history. The tool makes it easier for users to have “human readable code” accessible when researching smart contracts.

Token monitoring

ERC-20 tokens, which are tokens built on the Ethereum blockchain, can be monitored on Etherscan. Users can check token balances and transaction history. Etherscan also makes it possible to track the number of addresses that hold the token and the volume of trading in the last 24-hour period.

Network statistics

Etherscan gives users real-time network statistics for Ethereum and historical data on network performance.

How is Etherscan connected to Ethereum?

Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain with smart contract functionality. Its native cryptocurrency is Ether (ETH), and it's the largest blockchain for NFTs.

Etherscan is a block explorer for the Ethereum blockchain, providing a way for users to explore, search and analyze the Ethereum blockchain data. It is connected to Ethereum through its access to the Ethereum network's data.

When a transaction occurs on the Ethereum network, it is recorded on the blockchain, which is a decentralized, public ledger of all transactions on the network. Etherscan retrieves this data from the Ethereum network's nodes and uses it to create an interface that allows users to search and analyze the information on the blockchain easily.

Using Etherscan with Novartify

You can use Etherscan on Novartifyverify the authenticity of NFTs and to view an NFT's transaction history.

While you can access Etherscan directly from its main page, you can also access Etherscan from an Novartify listing or through MetaMask on Novartify. While on Novartify, access your MetaMask wallet, select the three dots at the top right of the extension, and select "View Account on Etherscan" to view your token balance and transaction history on Etherscan.