blockscout

Blockscout is an open-source tool for browsing and inspecting activity on Ethereum-compatible blockchains. If you have ever used Etherscan to look up a transaction or wallet balance, Blockscout does the same thing, but as a self-hostable, open codebase rather than a closed commercial service. It gives anyone the ability to run their own blockchain explorer.

The tool covers a wide range of networks. Beyond the main Ethereum network, it works with Optimism, Gnosis Chain, various test networks, private chains, and what are called L2s (layer-two networks that sit on top of Ethereum to reduce costs and increase speed). The project lists several hundred supported chains in total, spanning ecosystems like Cosmos, Polkadot, and Avalanche.

What you can do with it: search for specific transactions by their ID, view the history and current balance of any wallet address, and read or interact with smart contracts (self-executing programs stored on the blockchain). It is built for anyone who needs to audit, verify, or simply understand what is happening on a given blockchain network.

Blockscout is aimed at teams running their own blockchain infrastructure, whether that is a startup building on a private Ethereum network, a project launching a new L2, or a public chain that wants its own branded explorer. Deployment options include Docker containers, Kubernetes clusters, and manual server setup, all documented in the project's external documentation site.

The project is licensed under the Blockscout Software Licence, not a standard open-source licence, so teams planning commercial use should review the full licence terms before deploying it. The code is written in Elixir, a programming language designed for building reliable, high-traffic systems.