Question 1

What is OpenScan?

Accepted Answer

OpenScan is a free, open-source blockchain explorer that connects directly to blockchain nodes via RPC. Unlike centralized explorers like Etherscan, it does not rely on intermediary servers or indexed databases. It is trustless, privacy-focused, and supports multiple blockchain networks.

Question 2

What blockchain networks does OpenScan support?

Accepted Answer

OpenScan supports Ethereum (Mainnet), Arbitrum One, Optimism, Base, Polygon, BNB Smart Chain (BSC), Bitcoin, and local development chains like Hardhat and Anvil. Testnets including Sepolia are also supported.

Question 3

Is OpenScan free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes. OpenScan is 100% free and open-source under the MIT license. There are no ads, no premium tiers, and no data collection.

Question 4

How is OpenScan different from Etherscan?

Accepted Answer

OpenScan is trustless and decentralized. It connects directly to blockchain RPC nodes instead of relying on centralized indexing servers. It is also fully open-source, privacy-focused (no tracking or ads), supports multiple chains including Bitcoin, and can be deployed on IPFS for complete decentralization.

Question 5

Can I interact with smart contracts on OpenScan?

Accepted Answer

Yes. OpenScan supports reading from and writing to verified smart contracts directly through the explorer interface. You can connect your wallet and interact with any verified contract on supported EVM networks.

Question 6

Can I use OpenScan for local blockchain development?

Accepted Answer

Yes. OpenScan has full support for local development chains including Hardhat and Anvil. It provides trace capabilities (debug_traceTransaction, trace_block) on localhost networks, making it useful for smart contract development and debugging.

Question 7

What is a blockchain explorer?

Accepted Answer

A blockchain explorer is a tool that allows users to search and view transactions, addresses, blocks, and smart contracts on a blockchain network. OpenScan is an open-source blockchain explorer that connects directly to blockchain nodes via RPC, providing trustless and transparent access to on-chain data without relying on centralized servers.

Question 8

Can OpenScan be self-hosted or deployed on IPFS?

Accepted Answer

Yes. OpenScan is a fully static web application that can be self-hosted on any web server or deployed on IPFS for complete decentralization. Since it connects directly to blockchain RPC nodes, no backend server or database is required.

Question 9

Does OpenScan support ENS domain lookups?

Accepted Answer

Yes. OpenScan supports Ethereum Name Service (ENS) domain resolution. You can search for any ENS name (e.g., vitalik.eth) and OpenScan will resolve it to the corresponding Ethereum address, displaying its balance, transactions, and associated smart contracts.

Question 10

Is OpenScan open source?

Accepted Answer

Yes. OpenScan is fully open-source under the MIT license. The source code is available on GitHub at github.com/openscan-explorer. Anyone can audit the code, contribute improvements, or fork the project to create their own blockchain explorer.

OpenScan - Trustless Open-Source Blockchain Explorer