Ethereum has consistently ranked as a major player in the cryptocurrency space, often referred to as the "King of Public Chains." While not originally designed to compete directly with Bitcoin, it has earned its reputation as a foundational technology—often described as "Blockchain 2.0" compared to Bitcoin's "Blockchain 1.0."
Data from CoinMarketCap as of March 30 highlighted Ethereum’s strong market presence, holding the second-largest market capitalization just behind Bitcoin. Its substantial 24-hour trading volume reflects ongoing user interest and network activity. Major events like the launch of Ethereum 2.0 and Bitcoin’s halving have drawn significant attention, influencing the broader crypto market.
In response to these developments, OKLink introduced its Ethereum blockchain explorer on March 31. This new platform builds on the robust functionality of OKLink’s existing multi-currency explorers, offering real-time monitoring of on-chain data and large-volume transactions while addressing limitations found in other Ethereum explorers.
Expanding the Ecosystem: OKLink’s Multi-Currency Explorer Vision
At its core, blockchain technology operates as a distributed ledger. Bitcoin popularized this model, relying on a network of miners to verify and record transactions. Ethereum expanded on this concept by introducing a distributed computing platform. Not only does it facilitate transactions, but it also supports a Turing-complete scripting language, allowing developers to build and run decentralized applications.
A key innovation introduced by Ethereum is the smart contract—self-executing contracts with terms directly written into code, which are stored on the blockchain. These automate and validate contract negotiation and performance. As noted by the New York Times, Ethereum functions like a global computer, maintained by a network of users, with ETH used to allocate and pay for computational resources.
Ethereum also dominates the decentralized application (DApp) landscape. It boasts the most diverse DApp ecosystem, making it the preferred platform for developers. According to DappReview, out of 2,146 Ethereum DApps recorded, 1,223 remained active through 2019.
Given Ethereum’s substantial user base and strategic importance, OKLink’s decision to launch an Ethereum explorer was a natural progression. This move reinforces OKLink’s vision of building a comprehensive, multi-currency blockchain exploration tool.
Technical Excellence: Delivering Accurate and Real-Time Data
OKLink, a subsidiary of OKG, specializes in blockchain and big data infrastructure. Its blockchain explorers already support Bitcoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Tether, and the OKChain testnet, delivering reliable data querying and analytics.
According to Chao Zhang, OKLink’s Vice President of Product, the company emphasizes precision and speed. For example, the Litecoin explorer developed by OKLink is recognized as one of the fastest in the industry, accurately calculating actual block difficulty rather than just target difficulty. During the Litecoin halving event, OKLink was the first to detect the new block (1680000), demonstrating its technical advantage.
This commitment to performance ensures that OKLink’s Ethereum browser excels in completeness, timeliness, and accuracy. Testing confirms that it outperforms competitors like BTC.com and Tokenview in reporting new blocks and confirming transactions.
The new Ethereum explorer supports queries for ETH and all ERC-20 tokens. Users can search by address, transaction hash, block height, or token name. The dashboard displays key metrics like network hashrate, difficulty, and recommended gas fees. A dedicated token list section also shows market capitalization, price changes, and active addresses for each token.
Unlike established explorers like Etherscan, OKLink incorporates specialized data displays tailored to different user needs. These include mining pool rankings and large-transaction monitoring. Users can view real-time and estimated mining pool rankings based on hashrate and actual blocks produced, respectively.
Last year, many users in China experienced difficulties accessing Etherscan, citing slow loading times and intermittent availability. Developers and traders alike began searching for more reliable alternatives. OKLink’s timely release of a high-performance explorer underscores its commitment to both user needs and industry trends.
👉 Explore real-time Ethereum data
Leveraging Big Data to Become a Leading On-Chain Data Provider
Since its inception, OKLink has focused on a clear mission: leveraging blockchain and big data to build a complete data product ecosystem and become the most authoritative on-chain data provider.
By utilizing the inherent features of blockchain—such as decentralization and traceability—and enhancing them with big data analytics, OKLink delivers fast data retrieval and professional-grade API services. In less than a year, OKLink has formed strategic partnerships with major exchanges and wallet providers like Bitfinex, HOTBIT, Bitpie, and imToken, offering tailored data solutions to institutional clients.
Chao Zhang reaffirms OKLink’s dedication to innovation: "OKLink remains committed to providing multi-dimensional, comprehensive on-chain data with the goal of empowering more real-world industries and exploring new application scenarios. We will continue to diversify our data services and promote the healthy development of the blockchain ecosystem."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Ethereum blockchain explorer?
An Ethereum blockchain explorer is a tool that allows users to search and view transactions, addresses, blocks, and other on-chain data in real time. It provides transparency into network activity and supports token tracking.
How does OKLink’s Ethereum explorer differ from others?
OKLink emphasizes speed, accuracy, and user-focused data displays. It includes mining pool rankings, large-transaction monitoring, and detailed token analytics—features that many other explorers lack.
What are ERC-20 tokens?
ERC-20 is a technical standard used for creating tokens on the Ethereum network. It defines a set of rules that tokens must follow, ensuring compatibility across wallets, exchanges, and applications.
Can I use OKLink’s explorer for developer purposes?
Yes. The platform provides reliable API interfaces and detailed contract data, making it useful for developers building DApps, debugging smart contracts, or analyzing transaction histories.
Why is real-time data important in blockchain exploration?
Real-time data helps traders, developers, and researchers make informed decisions quickly. It is essential for monitoring market movements, tracking transactions, and analyzing network health.
Is OKLink’s explorer free to use?
Yes, OKLink’s Ethereum blockchain explorer is freely accessible to all users without any subscription or usage fees.