Baskin Logic Crypto Academy

Intermediate · Transactions

How to read a transaction on a block explorer

By Joshua Baskin, founder · Reviewed · Sources

Reading a transaction in four checksPaste the transaction hash. Status: pending, success or failed. Check from, to and amount. Check confirmations and the fee.1Paste the transaction hash2Status: pending, success or failed3Check from, to and amount4Check confirmations and the fee
Reading a transaction in four checks

The fields, in order

  1. Transaction hash (ID): the unique fingerprint. Share this, never your seed phrase.
  2. Status: pending, success or failed. Failed transactions can still cost a fee.
  3. Block and confirmations: how many blocks have been added since; more means harder to reverse.
  4. From / To: addresses. For token transfers, the “to” may be the token contract; look at the token-transfer section.
  5. Value: the native coin moved.
  6. Fee: what the network charged (gas used × gas price on Ethereum; size × fee rate on Bitcoin).

Bitcoin is different

Bitcoin shows inputs and outputs. One output often goes back to you as change. That is normal, not a theft.

Spot trouble

  • An approval you did not mean to sign.
  • A tiny incoming transfer from a look-alike address: address poisoning.
  • A send to an address that is not the one you checked.

Lesson game · earn XP

Check yourself: 3 quick questions

Perfect score = combo bonus. Each question returns in your spaced-repetition review.

Memory · spaced repetition

Flashcards: lock it in

Flip each card, then say if you knew it. Missed cards come back sooner.

Keep learning

Common questions

Can someone steal from me with my transaction hash?

No. It is public information.

Why does Bitcoin show two outputs?

One pays the recipient; the other is usually your change.

Sources

  1. ethereum.org: Transactions
  2. Bitcoin developer guide: Transactions
  3. Our lesson: block explorers

Sources checked October 23, 2026. Rules change; check the official source before acting.

Education only. Not investment, tax or legal advice. We do not pick coins.