The world of cryptocurrencies and decentralised applications is rapidly evolving, and understanding how transactions work on the blockchain is becoming a key factor for success for both developers and everyday users. This article will serve as your guide to the best tools for exploring the Solana blockchain ecosystem. We will explain what these tools are, why they are needed, and provide a detailed description of the five most popular services that allow you to effectively track SOL transactions.

What is Solana?

Before diving into what a Solana blockchain explorer is, it's helpful to understand what sets Solana apart from other blockchains. Let's take a look at the key features that make it unique:

• High speed. The blockchain is capable of processing up to 65,000 transactions per second.

• Low transaction costs. The average fee on Solana is around $0.00025, making it one of the cheapest networks.

• Efficient scalability. Designed specifically to support high transaction volumes and decentralised applications (dApps).

• Constantly expanding ecosystem. The developer community is actively creating a variety of projects based on Solana.

These factors make Solana a popular platform for building innovative decentralised systems and financial applications.

Why do you need a Solana blockchain explorer?

Without a Solana block explorer, manually tracking transaction status would be a complex and time-consuming task. Blockchain explorers provide convenient interfaces for analysing network status, current wallet balances, token movements, smart contract details, and much more. Let's take a look at the main purposes of using the Solana testnet explorer:

• Transaction confirmation. Quickly check whether funds have been credited to your account or whether a transfer has been successfully completed.

• Network performance evaluation. Analyse the status of validators and earnings from staking.

• Smart contract research. Explore the inner workings of smart contracts, such as their source code and interaction history.

• Archive data. View archives of previous transactions and block statuses.

Next, we will take a closer look at the five leading Solana blockchain explorers.

Top 5 best services

To help you understand the features of the Solana blockchain, we have compiled a rating of the five best services for exploring it. Each Solana chain explorer has a unique set of features and is designed to meet the diverse needs of users, from quick transaction verification to in-depth analysis of the blockchain and the DeFi market.

Blockscout

Blockscout is a popular blockchain explorer created for over 600 blockchains compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Although it was originally created for Ethereum, Blockscout is gradually adapting to other networks, including Solana.


Blockscout features:

• Wide network coverage. Allows you to explore hundreds of different blockchains.

• In-depth analytics. Provides data on transactions, balances, smart contracts, and internal interactions.

• Integrations with popular applications. Connects to well-known platforms such as Zerion and Farcaster, complementing their functionality.

• User customisation. Ability to personalise settings and save preferences for future use.

Blockscout is an excellent choice for those who want to see the big picture and comfortably navigate large amounts of blockchain data.

OKLink

Open to supporting multiple blockchains, OKLink helps solve multi-currency management tasks. In addition to working with Solana, the platform also covers the Ethereum, Bitcoin and other major networks.

Advantages of OKLink:

• Compatibility with many different blockchains

• Advanced analytical tools and market analysis

• A wide range of options for monitoring wallet accounts and individual transactions

If your business involves working with different blockchains and managing funds across multiple systems, OKLink provides a single, convenient space for comprehensive analysis and reporting.

Solana Explorer

The official tool from the Solana team, Solana Explorer provides direct access to up-to-date network information. The service includes data on recent transactions, confirmed blocks, validator statistics, and a complete transaction history.

Advantages:

• Direct integration with Solana infrastructure

• High accuracy of data obtained directly from the network

• Convenient and concise interface, equally suitable for beginners and professionals

The disadvantage is the lack of a wide range of analytical tools offered by competitors.

Solana FM

Offering unique functional modules not available from competitors, Solana FM is primarily intended for corporate clients and professionals interested in comprehensive analytical capabilities and process automation. For example, one of the main advantages of the service is the ability to model future transactions before they are actually executed.


Distinctive features:

• customised information panels tailored to specific user needs;

• enterprise-grade tools for generating detailed reports and exporting necessary data;

• specialised modules for tracking and analysing NFT projects.

Despite its high level of functionality, the service is less convenient for basic queries typical of most users, favouring specialised business needs and industry experts.

Solscan

One of the most popular independent services, Solscan attracts a multi-million audience every month with its extensive analytical capabilities and advanced features for advanced users and developers.

Features:

• Detailed tracking of token statistics, DeFi markets, and the NFT space

• Powerful search filters by address, transaction hash, and block number

• API and SDK for integration with external projects and systems

Solscan is ideal for professional market participants who need in-depth analytical tools and maximum flexibility in exploring the blockchain.

Conclusion

Each Solana wallet explorer has its own advantages and features. The choice of tool for exploring the Solana blockchain depends on your goals and preferences. The official Solana Explorer guarantees maximum data reliability, Solscan opens up broad horizons for analytics, Solana FM specialises in complex tasks and NFT analytics, while OKLink and Blockscout are convenient for working with multiple blockchains simultaneously. Understanding how to use these tools will give you a significant advantage in the world of digital finance and open up new opportunities for development on the Solana blockchain.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of information can be obtained using the Solana blockchain explorer?

Solana blockchain explorers allow you to track the following types of data: transaction status and confirmations, wallet balances and token movements, validator and staking data, smart contract history and execution.

Why is it important to use a Solana blockchain explorer?

Using an explorer makes it much easier to verify transactions, assess network status, and analyse smart contract activity. Without specialised tools, manual monitoring would be time-consuming and labour-intensive.

Is my data safe when using Solana blockchain explorers?

Yes, blockchain data is open and publicly available. Using explorers is safe, as they get info directly from public sources and don't require you to enter private keys or passwords.

Do I need to pay to use a Solana blockchain explorer?

Most viewers are free and provide open access to information. Some premium services (such as advanced analytics reports or enterprise tools) may require payment.

Should I trust third-party viewers such as Blockscout or Solana Beach?

Third-party viewers offer additional features and conveniences that are not available in the official toolkit. It is important to ensure that the service you choose is trusted by the community and is regularly updated.