The Avalanche project was launched in 2020. It was created by developers from Ava Labs, a New York-based company. The core team consisted of Kevin Seknik, Mao Fan ‘Ted’ Yin, and Cornell University professor Emin Gün Sirer.
The project quickly attracted investor interest, and the team managed to raise about $300 million, including $48 million from token sales. Avalanche is a blockchain platform for smart contracts for decentralised applications (dApps). The goal of the project is to provide a highly scalable, secure, and compatible solution for dApps and user blockchain networks. Avalanche has its own token, AVAX. It can be used for staking, paying fees, and creating subnets.
The AVAX Explorer tool is used to interact with the blockchain protocol. There is a tool developed by the company itself, as well as third-party solutions. It acts as a search engine for blockchain data, allowing users to view information about transactions, blocks, and network status. In this review, we will explain how the AVAX blockchain explorer works, why it is needed, and provide examples of using tools for analysing Avalanche.
How Avalanche works
Avalanche operates on the basis of an architecture of three interconnected blockchains: X-Chain, C-Chain and P-Chain. X-Chain is designed for creating and exchanging digital assets, including the AVAX token, and uses the Avalanche consensus protocol for fast transaction verification. C-Chain supports the development of smart contracts and is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), using the Snowman protocol for efficient transaction ordering. P-Chain manages validator activity and the creation of individual subnets, also using the Snowman protocol.
Avalanche's efficiency is ensured by two unique consensus protocols. The basic Avalanche protocol is distinguished by the absence of a centralised leader and the use of a directed acyclic graph (DAG), which allows for parallel computing and instant transaction confirmation. The Snowman protocol, based on Avalanche, adds the linear ordering of transactions necessary for the correct operation of smart contracts, while maintaining fast confirmation and load resistance.
What is AVAX Explorer?
Avalanche Explorer is an online platform designed to view and analyse Avalanche blockchain data. Essentially, it is a kind of search engine and network status monitor, similar to well-known services such as Etherscan for Ethereum. With AVAX Explorer, anyone can view detailed information about transactions, blocks, wallet status, and the overall status of the Avalanche network.
The main functions of AVAX Explorer are to provide a simple and intuitive interface for:
- Viewing transaction history
- Checking wallet balances
- Tracking the current state of blocks
- Assessing overall network activity and statistics
Thanks to AVAX Explorer, users can verify the successful completion of transactions, check their account status, and assess the overall health and load of the Avalanche network.
How to use AVAX Explorer
Using AVAX Block Explorer is quite simple and intuitive. Here is a step-by-step guide that any user can follow:
- Select a service. Go to one of the popular resources listed above (e.g., SXT Studio, SnowTrace, or the official Avalanche Explorer).
- Enter data. To view information about a specific transaction, enter its identifier (TX Hash) in the search bar. If you are interested in your wallet balance, enter its address.
- View details. After entering the data, a page with detailed information will open: transaction status, amount, commission, time of sending, and other important details.
- Additional features. Use the advanced features of the service, such as viewing blocks, monitoring the network, and obtaining additional statistics.
Why AVAX explorers are needed
Avalanche scans play an important role for all network participants:
- Transparency. Blockchain is built on the principle of openness and transparency, and AVAX explorers clearly demonstrate the implementation of this principle.
- Real-time monitoring. The ability to constantly monitor your own funds and transactions increases confidence and control.
- Troubleshooting. They help you understand the reasons for failed transfers and eliminate potential problems.
- Network activity analysis. They allow you to assess the market situation and make informed investment decisions.
Analysis and visualisation of Avalanche (AVAX) blockchain data using SXT Studio
SXT Studio is a powerful tool for researching and visualising Avalanche (AVAX) blockchain data, allowing any user, regardless of technical experience, to immerse themselves in the world of cryptocurrency data. This platform provides a simple and intuitive interface for exploring wallets, transactions, and smart contracts, transforming complex information into valuable analytical tools.
Getting a visual representation of Avalanche data
Getting visualised Avalanche blockchain data has become an incredibly simple process. Just a couple of steps separate you from a complete set of on-chain data:
- Open the main menu and select ‘Datasets’.
- Click on ‘Avalanche’ and access the full range of network data, including wallet balances, transfers, and smart contract interactions.
This allows you to instantly dive into network activity and identify key trends.
Exploring Avalanche wallets and data with SXT
Exploring Avalanche wallet activity is now available to everyone thanks to the unique data storage structure in SXT Studio. All information is organised in such a way that you can write standard SQL queries or simply enter your questions in plain language.
The simplicity of the interface is achieved through natural language input support. You can ask your question in familiar conversational language, and the system will automatically convert your query into SQL code and execute it.
Examples of popular queries include:
- Show the top 10 Avalanche wallets with the largest balances.
- Find recent Avalanche transactions worth more than $10,000.
- Track wallets that have received AVAX in the last 24 hours.
This allows you to quickly detect large transfers, whale activity, and general trends in the Avalanche market.
Creating visual dashboards
Once you have formed your queries, you can turn the results into colourful and informative visual dashboards directly within SXT Studio. This is one of the fastest methods for building analytical dashboards for the Avalanche network using indexed AVAX data.
The process of creating a dashboard is as follows:
- Log in to SXT Studio and go to the ‘Dashboards’ tab.
- Select ‘Create New Dashboard’ and start with a template or create your own structure.
- Add a chart, paste your query, and select the appropriate display type (bar chart, line chart, table, etc.).
Dashboards allow you to visually monitor wallet activity, subnet usage, or AVAX betting trends, helping you quickly find important patterns and trends.
Indexing your smart contracts on the Avalanche network
Developers working on the Avalanche C-Chain now have the ability to index their own smart contracts directly in SXT Studio. This provides access to decrypted events, function calls, and wallet interactions, facilitating in-depth analysis of contract behaviour over time.
The procedure is simple and involves the following steps:
- Go to the ‘Smart Contract Data’ section in the studio.
- Select ‘Get Data from Chain’ and click on “Avalanche”.
- Click ‘Add Contract’ and enter the address of your deployed contract on the Avalanche C-Chain.
After indexing, SXT automatically imports contract metadata and decrypts events and function calls. Now you can:
- Monitor contract activity in real time.
- Query any onchain interactions with standard SQL or natural language.
- Visualise smart contract usage by time or wallet address.
This functionality is particularly useful for creating specialised analytical tools, conducting audits, or supporting application backends using up-to-date Avalanche data.
Conclusion
Avalanche block explorers are powerful and convenient tools that allow anyone to better understand and more effectively manage their participation in the Avalanche ecosystem. Whether you are an investor, a novice participant, or a professional developer, familiarising yourself with these tools will be an important step in mastering the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Armed with such useful aids, you will be able to confidently move forward on your journey through the world of the digital economy.