Blockchain explorers are essential for monitoring transactions and helpful when choosing which crypto project you want to support and where exactly to buy Ethereum. These tools gather data directly from the blockchain and turn it into readable, easy-to-understand charts, graphs, and tables.
There’s no straightforward answer as to which blockchain explorer is the best since most platforms focus on exploring a specific network (e.g. Ethereum or Bitcoin Blockchain).
This post will review the top 5 Ethereum blockchain explorers.
Article Breakdown
EnjinX
EnjinX is one of the easiest to use and fastest Ethereum blockchain explorers. It has no redundant features, giving users exactly what they are looking for – a stream of well-structured real-time network data.
The platform doesn’t rely on advertising and keeps the interface clean and to the point. In the future, EnjinX will likely support other blockchains as well – the development team wants to integrate Bitcoin, Litecoin, Binance Coin, and other projects into the explorer.
Key features:
- Detailed block, transaction, and miner tracking
- Clean interface
- No on-platform tracking
What data you can track:
- Tokens
- Assets
- Transactions
- Blocks
Etherscan
Etherscan is the leading Ethereum block explorer. It helps users monitor transactions and track account addresses. The platform also has unique features under the hood — a gas price tracker and a dashboard with the network’s historical data visualized in charts and graphs.
Key features:
- Transaction monitoring
- Watchlist that tracks addresses and alerts users when the address holder is involved in new transactions
- Gas price tracker
- APIs that help broadcast Etherscan data in decentralized applications or data feeds.
What data you can track:
- Transactions
- Market cap
- Difficulty level
- Blocks (including uncles)
- Top ETH senders, receivers, and miners
- Gas fees.
Etherchain
Etherchain is another easy-to-use Ethereum 1.0 blockchain explorer. It gives blockchain users and crypto-enthusiasts a clear idea of the state of the network. The development team also built an API that can be integrated into blockchain products.
Key features:
- Visually rich charts and correlations
- Gas price tracker
- Unit converter
- Ethereum blockchain tracker
- Easy-to-use and high-performance interface
What data you can track:
- Ethereum price
- Difficulty level
- TPS
- Uncle rate
- Accounts
- Block history
- Gas fees
ETHScan
ETHScan is a Beaconcha.in fork that tracks ETH 2.0 data and supports users with insights on validator availability and slashings, block attestations, epoch history, and rewards.
The platform comes with an easy-to-use interface and a rich resource library. The development team carefully monitors Ethereum updates and shares them with users in the “Educational Materials” tab.
Main features:
- Real-time validator tracking dashboard
- Customizable interface (e.g. you can choose the number of entries displayed on the page)
- Network history dashboard
- Wide range of tracking data
- Reward calculator
- APIs for third-party integrations
What data you can track:
- Slots and epochs
- Validators (income, slashings, balance)
- Amount of staked ether
- Blocks and transactions
Blockchair
Blockchair gives crypto investors and miners a wide range of network data pulled from Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and other blockchains. Also, a “Compare” feature gives a big-picture view of the market cap, transaction volume, and other data for top crypto projects.
Key features:
- Multi-currency support
- News aggregator
- Blockchain comparison
- API that supports 17 blockchains
What data can you track:
- Blocks
- Transactions and fees
- Difficulty levels
- Current number of nodes
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Final thoughts
Blockchain explorers are important because they make the most out of Ethereum’s transparency, allowing users to effortlessly cross-check transactions, and keep tabs on the project’s market cap and network activity.
They have a wide range of applications — from ensuring your transaction reaches its recipient successfully to providing a backbone for investment decisions.
There are several ways to choose an Ethereum blockchain explorer. To make an informed decision, try 3-5 platforms and choose the most convenient one.