TL;DR

SolScan is an alternative blockchain explorer from Solana. It offers access to blockchain data about transactions, contracts, accounts and more. If you regularly use Solana or any troubleshooting resource, understanding how to use a blockchain explorer is extremely helpful.

SolScan also has DeFi and NFT dashboards and an analytics platform available. You can also use their API to create custom feeds for you. All of these features are found in the website header.


Introduction

Solana is a Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchain where project developers can create DApps, tokens, and smart contracts. Like any other active blockchain, users need an intuitive way to access blockchain data. Similar to BscScan and EtherScan, Solana also has a block explorer, SolScan. Let's look at its most important features and some basic tutorials.



What is SolScan?

SolScan is a blockchain explorer used to search for information on the Solana blockchain. It is a popular alternative to the official Solana Explorer. SolScan transforms complex transaction data into something that can be easily read. The block explorer provides access to everything recorded on the blockchain, including cryptocurrency transactions, addresses, smart contracts, blocks, tokens, etc. It's a free feature that doesn't require an account, but you can create one and log in to access additional functionality.


Why should I use SolScan?

Using a blockchain explorer is essential for anyone transacting on a network. If you're not sure where your staked funds are, or have questions about a pending transaction, you can use SolScan to find out. All information in SolScan comes directly from the Solana blockchain, so it is accurate. Using SolScan or any other blockchain explorer will help you understand the transaction mechanisms and DApps you interact with.

SolScan uses the same format as EtherScan, which makes it easier to use and understand. Many users prefer its layout to the official Solana explorer. It is completely free and contains several useful tools, lists and analytical charts. The explorer also features a set of public APIs that use real-time SolScan data for custom third-party applications and tools.


How to search for transactions and addresses in SolScan?

One of SolScan's most used features is the transaction and address lookup function. With the right hash, you can quickly access a large amount of information. This includes transaction fees, confirmations, timestamps, addresses involved, and more.

Transactions

1. Every Solana transaction is recorded with a signature on the Solana mainnet. The transaction record is a long string of numbers and letters like this:

5JLcGJQfZjEEuh1bSDqyw2iEfLuFRoYRJY1paoSwrZC8c8zZFW3VqvxsJgjW3bsUjTrpEUDEtvs83PxsuR6hUWqz

2. Copy and paste the signature into the SolScan search bar and press Enter.


3. You will now see all available information about the searched transaction. The information is divided into three categories: [Overview], [SOL Balance Change], and [Token Balance Change]. In Portuguese, overview, SOL balance change and token balance change.


4. The [Overview] category will have most of the details you need. Let's see some of them:

Signature

An alphanumeric string uniquely assigned to each transaction. It is an identifier similar to Ethereum's Transaction Hash or TxID.

Block

Block number in which the transaction was included. These numbers are sequential and indicate the position of the transaction in the blockchain history.

Timestamp (Date and Time Stamp)

Timestamp associated with the block in which the transaction was processed.

Result

The confirmation status of the transaction.

Signer

The wallet address that initiated the transaction.

Taxa

The fee paid for the transaction.

Main actions

An overview of the activities associated with the transaction.

Previous Block Hash

Alphanumeric hash to identify the previous block.

Instruction Details

A detailed record of transaction actions.

Program Log

A detailed log of the results of instructions/actions.


5. For more information, the [SOL Balance Change] and [Token Balance Change] tabs provide data on transaction token balance changes, for all parties involved.

Adresses

A similar method can be used to obtain information about an address. You can check the detailed activity history of the address. This provides an overview of transactions and interactions with smart contracts for a specific wallet.

1. Find the Solana address you want to check. The string is shorter than the signature, like the example below:

138KHwTqKNWGLoo8fK5i8UxYtwoC5tC8o7M9rY1CDEjT

2. Copy and paste the address into the SolScan search bar and press Enter.


3. You will see all available information about the searched transaction. The [Overview] section shows current account balances, while the lower tabs mainly deal with transaction history.


How to search for tokens on SolScan?

It's very easy to search for tokens on SolScan and you can see a complete view of their information. To do this, simply follow the steps below:

1. Copy and paste the token address into the SolScan search bar and press Enter. In this example, we use a wrapped version of Bitcoin (BTC), but you can also use a wrapped version of Ethereum (ETH) or any other SPL token on the Solana network.

The token address is a string like this:

9n4nbM75f5Ui33ZbPYXn59EwSgE8CGsHtAeTH5YFeJ9E

2. If you entered the address correctly, you will see the following information.


Tokens

Fully Diluted Market Capitalization

It is the maximum total supply multiplied by the current token price. It is called diluted because it also includes locked tokens.

Maximum Total Supply

Total number of tokens that will exist for a specific cryptocurrency. It considers both coins already mined and those that will be issued in the future.

Holders

The number of addresses storing (holding) the token.

Social Channels

Links to the token's official social media channels.

Token Name

The name and Ticker of the token in the format: [token name (TICKER)].

Token Address

Unique alphanumeric address assigned as identifier for each token.

Proprietary Program

A class type and unique ID indicating the specific proprietary program responsible for reading and writing data to the blockchain.

Authority

The account (usually multi-signature) that has the authority to validate transactions within the network.

Decimals

How divisible a single token is (number of decimal places allowed).

Tags

Descriptive tags used to indicate the nature of the token. They can be used to find similarly categorized tokens.

Transactions

A complete, sequentially ordered list of all token transactions.

Holders

A complete list of all accounts holding the token, ordered by total amount stored and percentage of holding.

Analysis

Graphs on the distribution of tokens and holders.

Markets

A list of all known markets and pairs supporting the token.


How to search active Solana accounts?

1. You can find the number of active accounts and other important blockchain metrics by clicking [Analytics].


2. The SolScan analytics page has a wealth of information about network nodes, transactions per second (TPS), new tokens, new NFTs, and more. In the [Accounts] section, you will find the number of daily active wallets.


3. Note that you can select different periods in the top right corner.


How to access DeFi dashboards on SolScan

1. Some of the largest DEXs in the Solana ecosystem have dashboards integrated into the Solana block explorer. They are available in the [Defi] tab.


2. Let's take a look at the Orca project. This dashboard shows basic information about Total Value Locked (TVL), volume, and active trading pairs available in your liquidity pools.


How to access the NFT dashboard in SolScan

1. In the NFT dashboard, SolScan makes it easy to view new NFTs, trades, and collections. You can find this section in the website header.


2. The NFT dashboard allows you to search for any NFT available on Solana. The [Collections] tab provides a list of NFT projects based on volume. In [Trades] the most recent sales are displayed. Under [New NFTs], there is a list of the latest creations/issuances.



Final considerations

If you want to check your Metaverse NFTs, check out a node, or check a new startup's wallets, you'll need a Solana block explorer. This tool is an integral part of the ecosystem of any blockchain network. SolScan has become one of the most used explorers in the Solana community. Therefore, it is certainly helpful to understand its layout and user interface.