Explore the Bitcoin Blockchain
Search for blocks by height or hash to explore transactions, verify data, and understand the Bitcoin network.
Search for a Block
Enter a block height (number) or block hash to explore
Try searching for block height or a recent block hash
Recent Blocks
Explore recently mined blocks
Historical Milestones
Explore significant blocks in Bitcoin history
Understanding Bitcoin Blocks
What is a Bitcoin Block?
A Bitcoin block is a container of transactions that is added to the blockchain approximately every 10 minutes. Each block includes a reference to the previous block, creating a chain that forms the immutable ledger.
Block Headers
The block header contains metadata about the block, including the previous block hash, merkle root (a hash of all transactions), timestamp, difficulty target, and nonce used for mining.
Block Explorers
Block explorers allow you to inspect the blockchain by searching for blocks, transactions, or addresses. They provide transparency by making blockchain data accessible to everyone.
Anatomy of a Bitcoin Block
Block Header (80 bytes)
Block Body (Variable Size)
Did you know? The Bitcoin block size is limited to help maintain decentralization. While the original limit was 1MB, the introduction of Segregated Witness (SegWit) in 2017 effectively increased the capacity without changing the base block size.
Why Block Explorers Matter
- Transparency: Block explorers make the Bitcoin blockchain accessible to everyone, promoting transparency and trust.
- Transaction Verification: Users can verify that their transactions have been included in a block and confirm the number of confirmations.
- Network Analysis: Researchers and analysts can study transaction patterns, block times, and other metrics to understand network health.
- Educational Tool: Block explorers help newcomers understand how Bitcoin works by visualizing its underlying structure.