Blockstream's new blockexplorer

[OmegaStarScream]

A few hours ago, Blockstream announced that their new blockexplorer is live.

For now, it doesn't have as many features as the other explorers out there but It's definitely looking good. What are your thoughts?

[mk4]

Though this feature doesn't help me, I like that it has a bitcoin testnet feature.

The only advantage for me on using Blockstream's block explorer is that it has dark mode by default LOL; and it's also good that they have their own Tor URLs. Though I really don't know the advantages of using an Onion URL vs using the official "blockstream.info" URL on a Tor browser.

[squatter]

A few hours ago, Blockstream announced that their new blockexplorer is live.

For now, it doesn't have as many features as the other explorers out there but It's definitely looking good. What are your thoughts?

Thanks for the info. I assume this is the only block explorer with support for Liquid. I'm not sure how informative that'll be to outsiders since Liquid participants can use Confidential transactions to obscure amounts from public view. But I'm curious nonetheless.

Bech32 support and no user tracking sounds good to me! Blockchain.com still hasn't added full support for Bech32, and I just don't like using Blocktrail being that it's owned by Bitmain. It's nice to have a solid new block explorer to bookmark.

[leowonderful]

Yup, I’m also coming to Blockstream as this explorer seems to support Bech32 just fine and Blockchain doesn’t do that (I wonder when they’ll also make the upgrade). Other browsers that supported Bech32 in the past didn’t feel all that great to me, and the site is clean and navigable. Nothing incredible here, but it’s the best out there for Bech32 support IMO.

[LeGaulois]

Not many features so I have no use of, (maybe when Liquid will be more adopted but since it won't be the only one...) it's, of course, a good initiative. @squatter, don't worry within 6 months we will have +20 websites a Liquid explorer, polluting screens with banner ads.

[buwaytress]

Yeah, it's ok. Can't say I know much about Liquid and sidechains stopped getting me interested after the mild disappointment with rsk. Still a ways to catch up with the features of Blockchair (just my current favourite explorer) but this was always going to be Liquid centric.

That's two new explorers I've looked at in 2 days. My feeling is one that combines Bitcoin with all its sidechains and then LN... Would be real popular.

[TryNinja]

Well... looks like I'm not going to use it that much.

I just tried it out with one of my old addresses and that's what it shows up: "Sorry! Addresses with large number of transactions aren't currently supported."

Like, are you serious?

[mk4]

Well... looks like I'm not going to use it that much.

I just tried it out with one of my old addresses and that's what it shows up: "Sorry! Addresses with large number of transactions aren't currently supported."

Like, are you serious?

BitFast(Lawrence Nahum, Blockstream dev) said "it's not a feature, indeed it is a temporary limitation. we are working on supporting all."
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/9usmjn/blockstreaminfo_block_explorer_is_now_live_and/e98be4g/?context=3

So yeah, looks like a temporary restriction. Wish they released the complete working product instead though, or at least announce it as a beta release first.

[Patatas]

A few hours ago, Blockstream announced that their new blockexplorer is live.

For now, it doesn't have as many features as the other explorers out there but It's definitely looking good. What are your thoughts?

I'm really waiting for a good alternative to Blockchain's block explorer. I thought this one would hit the spot but no, it's very basic and doesn't really even have the basic features of what Blockchain has. The night mode is interesting and without the night mode, the website looks too dull. They should have least included real-time block logging or a view where debit/credit transactions are clear. For now, I don't really think have much to make a shift from blockchain's explorer.

[squatter]

Well... looks like I'm not going to use it that much.

I just tried it out with one of my old addresses and that's what it shows up: "Sorry! Addresses with large number of transactions aren't currently supported."

Like, are you serious?

BitFast(Lawrence Nahum, Blockstream dev) said "it's not a feature, indeed it is a temporary limitation. we are working on supporting all."
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/9usmjn/blockstreaminfo_block_explorer_is_now_live_and/e98be4g/?context=3

So yeah, looks like a temporary restriction. Wish they released the complete working product instead though, or at least announce it as a beta release first.

I'm thinking when they launched Liquid last month, they didn't consider that no block explorers were ready or planning to support it. It's probably tough to publicly hype or demonstrate their product when it's blockchain-based but people can't even see it on block explorers. So they spun this up in a couple weeks, without all the bells and whistles.

[BitHodler]

I'm really waiting for a good alternative to Blockchain's block explorer. I thought this one would hit the spot but no, it's very basic and doesn't really even have the basic features of what Blockchain has.

The thing with blockchain's explorer is that people got so used to it, that it's near impossible for them to be satisfied with that what other explorers offer. There are great alternatives out already, which I like even more.

My current (main) block explorer is https://blockchair.com

It's quite advanced and features certain other coins as well, and they even offer bench32 support, which is pretty neat if you ask me. I'm no longer using blockchain's explorer because there is no point to it anymore.

Just make the switch.

[buwaytress]

I'm really waiting for a good alternative to Blockchain's block explorer. I thought this one would hit the spot but no, it's very basic and doesn't really even have the basic features of what Blockchain has.

The thing with blockchain's explorer is that people got so used to it, that it's near impossible for them to be satisfied with that what other explorers offer. There are great alternatives out already, which I like even more.

My current (main) block explorer is https://blockchair.com

It's quite advanced and features certain other coins as well, and they even offer bench32 support, which is pretty neat if you ask me. I'm no longer using blockchain's explorer because there is no point to it anymore.

Just make the switch.

Yeah, I used blockchain for a very long time, only because I guess it was my first, and it's just so familiar. But they had several bugs that persisted for so long, most still not fixed today! Like wrong timestamps on outputs, wrong negative balance on some addresses with doublespends that should have been resolved long ago... to name a few I can remember.

Once I switched to bech32, was easier to move on and yeah, I like blockchair the most now - if only because of bech32 support (but their tx details are really nice too.

[1Referee]

It's quite funny how the big block camped explorers (which blockchair is one of) are way faster with upgrading their systems to allow people to fetch bench32 data than anyone else. I remember that BTC dot com (Bitmain owned) was one of the very first to support bench32, while most of the other explorers still have to upgrade.

I switched from blockchain (or should we call it bugchain) -> BTC dot com (which quite often is very slow) -> blockchair.

[pooya87]

LOL. it works with a proxy though. so probably an IP/country ban. thanks a lot blockcstream

Bech32 support and no user tracking sounds good to me! Blockchain.com still hasn't added full support for Bech32, and I just don't like using Blocktrail being that it's owned by Bitmain. It's nice to have a solid new block explorer to bookmark.

there are A LOT of block explorers out there, many of them have already implemented bech32 support and have lots of cool features. specially through their APIs. being owned by a company is always bad, doesn't matter which one. and them saying stuff about not tracking doesn't make them any better in my opinion. specially when that company is in US.

[pinkflower]

Though this feature doesn't help me, I like that it has a bitcoin testnet feature.

The only advantage for me on using Blockstream's block explorer is that it has dark mode by default LOL; and it's also good that they have their own Tor URLs. Though I really don't know the advantages of using an Onion URL vs using the official "blockstream.info" URL on a Tor browser.

But dont forget, dark mode make your screen work more and it can affect its life span lol.

I like it, its very light on my browser because there are no analytics embedded on the page.