Reading a block explorer: checking a transfer with its transaction hash

If you have sent coins but the deposit has not arrived, start with the transaction hash. A block explorer searches transaction and address records on a blockchain. It helps you check whether a transaction reached the network.

What to inspect in transaction details

• Transaction hash (Tx Hash): The identifier used to find a transaction, available in your wallet or exchange withdrawal history.
• Status: Whether processing is pending, successful or failed.
• Block and confirmations: The block containing the transaction and how much confirmation it has received since.
• From and to addresses: Addresses involved in the transaction. In a smart-contract call, the top-level destination may differ from the token's actual recipient.
• Token transfers: Which tokens moved to which addresses during execution.
• Fee: The network cost of processing the transaction.

A successful transaction may still not appear as a deposit

Success in an explorer means the transaction was processed on that chain. You still need to check the exchange's required confirmations, supported network, minimum deposit and memo or tag conditions.

Complex transactions, such as token swaps, look different from ordinary transfers. A zero amount near the top does not prove that no assets moved; inspect token transfers and execution details together. Conversely, a token having a displayed name does not make it an official asset.

How much can you trust address labels?

An explorer's “exchange” or “project” labels can help with checks, but they are not identities guaranteed by the blockchain itself. An address completing a transaction is not proof of a trustworthy operator either. Compare addresses with those published on the official website.

When contacting support, provide useful details such as the transaction hash, network and transfer time. Public addresses and hashes can connect your asset activity, so consider what you disclose on public forums. Verifying a transaction does not require sharing a private key or recovery phrase.

References

ethereum.org
info.etherscan.com