How to Use Etherscan: A Complete Guide for Ethereum Users

Etherscan is the go-to blockchain explorer for Ethereum, serving as a powerful tool for tracking transactions, analyzing smart contracts, and exploring on-chain data. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced crypto user, this guide will help you master Etherscan's features.

What Is Etherscan?

Etherscan is a blockchain search engine for Ethereum, indexing all transactions—pending, completed, or failed. It provides real-time insights into:

• Wallet balances
• Transaction statuses
• Smart contract interactions
• Gas fees
• Token and NFT activity

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Key Features of Etherscan

1. Search Functionality

• Find transaction hashes, wallet addresses, tokens, or ENS domains.
• Example: Searching for "Ambire WALLET token" displays its contract details.

2. Address Pages

Displays:

• ETH balance
• ERC-20 token holdings
• Transaction history (normal, internal, token transfers, NFT transfers)

3. Transaction Analysis

• Status: Pending, success, or failed (e.g., "Out of gas" errors)
• Details: Block number, gas fees, sender/receiver addresses
• Input Data: Smart contract interactions or bytecode for deployments

4. Smart Contract Exploration

• Verified Contracts page lists audited contracts.
• View source code, compiler version, and audit status.

5. Gas Tracking

• Gas Tracker shows real-time fee estimates.
• Check historical gas fees paid by any wallet under "Analytics > Txn Fees."

6. Token and NFT Support

• ERC-20/ERC-721: Track balances, transfers, and market data.
• NFT Collections: View mints, trades, and ownership history.

Step-by-Step Tutorials

How to Check a Transaction

1. Paste the TX hash into Etherscan’s search bar.
2. Review status, block confirmation, and gas details.

How to Read a Smart Contract

1. Navigate to the contract’s address page.
2. Under "Contract," check verification status and code.

How to Mint NFTs via Etherscan

1. Find the NFT’s contract address (e.g., from OpenSea).
2. Connect your wallet, click "Write Contract," and use mint or claim functions.

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Advanced Tips

• Watch Lists: Track addresses and set activity notifications.
• Private Tags: Label addresses for easier reference.
• DEX Tracker: Monitor recent decentralized exchange trades.

FAQ

1. Why is my transaction pending?

Pending transactions await block confirmation. If stuck, check gas fees or resubmit with higher gas.

2. How do I find token decimals?

On the token’s page, see "Other Info" for decimal precision (e.g., 18 decimals for most ERC-20 tokens).

3. Can I recover failed transactions?

No—failed transactions (e.g., out of gas) aren’t executed. You’ll need to reattempt with adjusted gas limits.

4. How do I check if liquidity is locked?

Go to the token’s "Holders" tab and look for exchange-labeled addresses (e.g., Uniswap).

5. Is Etherscan free to use?

Yes, but some features (like API calls) have rate limits.

Conclusion

Etherscan is indispensable for Ethereum users, offering transparency into transactions, contracts, and network stats. Bookmark the Gas Tracker to optimize fees, and use Watch Lists to monitor key addresses.

Pro Tip: Always verify smart contracts before interacting—unverified contracts pose risks.

For further reading, visit Etherscan’s knowledge base.
Disclaimer: Beta features may have limitations; proceed with caution.