The Ethereum blockchain now has another way to explore its transactions. BlockScout, created by the POA Network team, launched today as an open-source block explorer that developers can download, run,
The Ethereum blockchain now has another way to explore its transactions. BlockScout, created by the POA Network team, launched today as an open-source block explorer that developers can download, run, and modify for their own needs.
Bitcoin offers multiple block explorer options with varying capabilities. Ethereum users, by contrast, have operated with fewer choices, relying on Etherscan.io as the main option, with Etherchain, Ethplorer, and Blockchair as smaller alternatives. All existing explorers are closed-source, preventing developers from contributing improvements or adapting the software for custom use cases.
POA Network Technical Lead Igor Barinov described the limitation in a statement: "While building POA Network, we realized the existing block explorer options were closed source and limited in functionality. This meant we couldn't propose updates, contribute to development or integrate sidechain platforms."
BlockScout aims to be comprehensive, displaying standard transaction data and block information alongside token values and support for sidechains and private blockchain networks. Marketing materials for the project state that "BlockScout sets a new standard for blockchain exploration tools by providing detailed insights for users looking to easily verify transactions on the Ethereum blockchain, sidechains, and private chains."
ETHPrize, a competition designed to address gaps in Ethereum's infrastructure with community-funded development, spawned the project. The prize for an open-source block explorer competition totaled $250,000 in cryptocurrency, with backing from TrueBit, L4Ventures, and the Web3Foundation. The team conducted a beta test in August before releasing the public version today.
Technical hiccups marked the launch. Early on, the explorer's data lagged the actual blockchain by about an hour, though that issue resolved within hours. A second lag appeared later, running fifteen minutes behind the current chain state. Periodic spot-checks during the writing of this article detected no further delays. Block explorers sometimes fall behind their underlying chain, and when they catch up within minutes or hours, this constitutes normal operation.
What distinguishes BlockScout is its openness. Other explorers allow outside applications to connect through APIs, but they control the underlying tool. BlockScout, by contrast, lets developers fork the code and build their own explorer by modifying a copy of the repository. This shift from integration to complete control matters for those needing customization beyond what any single service provides. Etherchain Light exists as another open-source option, but it functions as a lightweight tool that lacks token tracking, sidechain support, and smart contract integration.
POA Network built BlockScout because the network itself uses Proof of Authority, a security model that requires validators to provide real-world identification and pledge reputation to participate. The infrastructure needed an explorer designed for those specifications. Even those skeptical of Proof of Authority as a consensus method can deploy BlockScout as a standard Ethereum explorer. Should a feature be absent, contributors can add functionality themselves.
