How to Read Etherscan
Etherscan is the most popular Ethereum blockchain explorer. It lets you view transactions, wallet balances, smart contracts, and token information. Every DeFi user should know how to use it.
What is Etherscan?
Etherscan is a window into the Ethereum blockchain. Everything on Ethereum is public, and Etherscan makes it readable.
You Can View:- Transaction details
- Wallet balances and history
- Smart contract code
- Token information
- Gas prices
Key Pages Explained
| Page | URL Pattern | Shows |
|---|---|---|
| . . . | . . . . . . - | . . . - |
| Transaction | etherscan.io/tx/... | Transaction details |
| Address | etherscan.io/address/... | Wallet or contract |
| Token | etherscan.io/token/... | Token info and holders |
| Block | etherscan.io/block/... | Block contents |
Other Block Explorers
Each chain has its own explorer:
- Arbitrum: arbiscan.io
- Base: basescan.org
- Optimism: optimistic.etherscan.io
- Polygon: polygonscan.com
. -
Track all your wallets with Fensory. Easier than checking explorers manually.[Start Tracking →](https://www.fensory.com)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Search for Address
Go to etherscan.io and paste any wallet address in the search bar.
Tips
- ✓Works for wallets and contracts
- ✓Addresses start with 0x
Read Address Page
View ETH balance, token holdings, and transaction history for any address.
Tips
- ✓Click Token dropdown to see all tokens
- ✓Internal Txns shows contract interactions
Understand Transactions
Click any transaction to see details: from, to, value, gas used, and status.
Tips
- ✓Green checkmark = success
- ✓Red X = failed transaction
Decode Input Data
For contract interactions, click Decode Input Data to see what function was called.
Tips
- ✓Shows function name and parameters
- ✓Helps understand what happened
Verify Contracts
Check if a contract is verified by looking for the green checkmark on the Contract tab.
Warnings
- ⚠Unverified contracts are higher risk
- ⚠Anyone can verify open-source contracts
Track Token Approvals
Click Token Approvals under More to see which contracts can spend your tokens.
Tips
- ✓Revoke unused approvals for security
- ✓Use revoke.cash for easy management