Hash or address
The hash (TxID) identifies a specific transaction. The address identifies a wallet and shows its full history. On exchanges, the TxID appears in the details of the deposit or withdrawal.
How to Trace a Crypto Wallet or Transaction
With the address or the hash (TxID) of a transaction, you can follow almost any USDT, bitcoin or ethereum movement in a block explorer. We explain how to do it, what you won’t be able to see and when tracing needs to become a report.
Updated: September 2026 · Bitcoin, Ethereum, TRON, BNB Smart Chain, Solana and PolygonNeed to trace funds for a bank or a criminal complaint? Free
Tell us which transaction you want to follow and we will tell you whether the explorer is enough or you need a report.
- 50+ entities advised
- Reply within 24 h
- No commitment
- Wallet verification threshold
- > €1,000
- Travel Rule
- Reg. (EU) 2023/1113
- AML law
- Law 10/2010
- Tracing checklist
- 10 steps
Before you start
What you can and can’t see when you trace a wallet
Public blockchains record every movement, but they don’t say who is behind each address. This is what you can check yourself.
| Information | Visible on the blockchain? | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Balance of an address | Yes, in real time. | The block explorer for its network. |
| Incoming and outgoing transfers | Yes, with the date, the amount and the sending or receiving address. | Block explorer. |
| Status of a transfer | Yes: pending, confirmed or failed, with its confirmations. | By searching for the hash (TxID). |
| Wallet owner | No. Addresses carry no names. | Only the exchange, if the address is one of its own, and usually at the request of an authority. |
| Transactions inside an exchange | No. Purchases, sales and internal transfers don’t go through the blockchain. | The account history on the exchange. |
| Whether the address belongs to an exchange | Sometimes: some explorers label known addresses. | Professional on-chain analytics tools. |
Trace step by step
I need a traceability report
Checking a public blockchain requires no permission: the data is visible to anyone.
Step by step
How to trace a transaction or a wallet
You only need two pieces of information: the transaction hash or the address, and the network it was sent on. The most common mistake is searching on the wrong network.
Bitcoin, TRON, Ethereum…
The same USDT circulates on several networks. An address that starts with T is on TRON (TRC20); one that starts with 0x may be on Ethereum (ERC20) or BNB Smart Chain (BEP20).
Where to look
Each network has its own block explorer: Etherscan for Ethereum, Tronscan for TRON and BscScan for BNB Smart Chain. For bitcoin there are several, such as mempool.space.
Trace a transfer in 10 steps
- Copy the hash (TxID) of the transfer or the address you want to check, with no spaces.
- Identify the network: from the address format or from the network you chose when sending.
- Open the block explorer for that network and paste the hash or address into the search bar.
- Check the status: pending, confirmed or failed, and how many confirmations it has.
- Check the amount, the token (USDT, USDC, ETH…) and the fee paid.
- Write down the sending address and the receiving address.
- Open the receiving address to see what happened to the funds next.
- Check whether any address has an exchange label: that is where the public trail ends.
- Save screenshots with the date and link of each transaction that matters to you.
- If you are going to submit it to a bank, the Spanish Tax Agency (Hacienda) or a court, turn it into a signed report.
Did the transfer come from Binance? See where to find the TxID and the history on our Binance certificate page.
Networks and explorers
Where to trace, by network
For guidance only. Before drawing conclusions, confirm the network in the transfer details: the same 0x address can exist on several Ethereum-compatible networks.
| Network | Address starts with | Usual explorer | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | 1, 3 or bc1 | mempool.space, Blockchair | Each transaction can have several inputs and outputs; one person usually uses many addresses. |
| Ethereum (ERC20) | 0x | Etherscan | USDT and USDC appear in the token transfers tab, not in the ETH tab. |
| TRON (TRC20) | T | Tronscan | The most widely used network for sending USDT, thanks to its low fees. |
| BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) | 0x | BscScan | Same format as Ethereum: if you can’t find the transfer on Etherscan, look for it here. |
| Solana | No fixed prefix (32 to 44 characters) | Solscan, Solana Explorer | Tokens are held in accounts associated with the main address. |
| Polygon | 0x | PolygonScan | Ethereum-compatible; widely used for low-fee payments. |
Looking for the full history of an exchange account? That is not on the blockchain: you download it from the platform itself. See how to do it on Binance.
Why trace
Five reasons to trace a wallet and what to do in each case
The tracing is the same; what changes is what you do next. Checking a transfer that hasn’t arrived is not the same as proving to your bank where your money comes from.
Pending transferThe transfer hasn’t arrived
Look up the TxID. If it is confirmed and the money doesn’t show up, the cause is almost always the wrong network or a deposit that required a memo or tag.
- Status
- Network
- Memo or tag
ScamYou’ve been scammed
Tracing shows where the funds went. If they end up at an exchange, the next step is a criminal complaint backed by a report that documents it.
- Trail
- Receiving exchange
- Criminal complaint
Source of fundsYour bank asks where the money came from
Your own transactions are the proof: which exchange the funds came from, which wallets they passed through and which account they reached.
- Purchases
- Transfers
- Sale and withdrawal
Before you payYou’re about to buy USDT from an individual
Checking the seller’s wallet before a P2P purchase helps you spot funds of doubtful origin, which could later get your account blocked.
If what you receive comes from a scam, the exchange or the bank may block it even if you knew nothing about it. See what to do if your account is blocked.
Is the explorer enough?When it’s enough and when it isn’t
For you
The explorer and a few screenshots.
For a bank
A traceability report with every TxID.
For a court
An expert report that the expert can ratify in court.
After tracing
Which document you need, depending on who you submit it to
Your bank
Where the money coming into your account from an exchange comes from.
A traceability report or a crypto certificate.
The Spanish Tax Agency
That your declared gains match your transactions.
Exchange histories, a gains calculation and traceability of transfers between wallets.
A notary
The source of the money you use to pay for a purchase.
Source of funds certificate with an on-chain annex.
The police or a court
Where the funds from a scam passed through and where they are now.
A criminal complaint backed by a tracing forensic expert report.
An exchange
That the wallet you deposit from is yours, and where the funds came from.
Proof of wallet control and purchase history.
Beware of crypto “recovery” services
After one scam, others often follow. Be wary if:
- They contact you first, through social media or messaging apps.
- They ask for an upfront payment to “release” or “recover” the funds.
- They promise to get your money back with complete certainty.
- They claim to have special access to the blockchain or to exchanges.
- They ask for your private keys or your seed phrase.
Do you need the tracing to serve as evidence?
We turn the path of your funds into a signed traceability report, with every TxID, address and date, ready for your bank, the Tax Agency or a court.
Frequently asked questions
Tracing a wallet: common questions
Can a wallet be traced?
Yes, if it is on a public blockchain such as Bitcoin, Ethereum or TRON: anyone can see its balance and transactions with a block explorer. What does not appear is who the owner is.
How do you trace a USDT wallet?
First, identify the network. If the address starts with T, it is TRON (TRC20) and you check it on Tronscan. If it starts with 0x, it may be Ethereum (ERC20) or BNB Smart Chain (BEP20). Paste the address into the explorer and open the token transfers tab.
What is a transaction hash or TxID?
It is the unique identifier of a transaction on the blockchain. With it, the explorer shows you whether the transfer is confirmed, the amount, the fee and the sending and receiving addresses. On exchanges, it appears in the details of each deposit or withdrawal.
Can you find out who owns a wallet?
Not directly: the blockchain stores no names. If the funds reach an exchange that identifies its customers, the exchange knows who holds that account, but it only discloses this when an authority requests it, for example after a criminal complaint.
Can a cold wallet be traced?
Yes. A cold wallet only protects the keys: its addresses and transactions are on the same public blockchain as any other. If you want to move those funds to your bank, see how to cash out crypto from a cold wallet.
Which cryptocurrencies cannot be traced?
Those that hide amounts and addresses by design, such as Monero, are very hard to follow with an explorer. The public trail is also lost when funds enter an exchange or go through mixing services.
My transaction is confirmed but hasn’t arrived: what should I do?
Check that you sent it on the network the receiving address supports and, if the exchange requires it, with the memo or tag. With the TxID, contact the receiving exchange’s support team: they are the ones who can locate the deposit.
Does what I see in the explorer count as evidence?
It helps you get your bearings. A bank, the Tax Agency or a court needs a document that explains the path and shows who each address belongs to. That is what a traceability report is for or, if there are court proceedings, a forensic expert report.
What exchanges look at
How tracing by others affects you
Exchanges and banks trace the same blockchains you do, with professional tools. It is worth knowing what they look at before you move money.
Risk scoring: platforms analyze where the funds you deposit come from and whether they have passed close to flagged addresses.
USDT freezes: Tether can freeze USDT at specific addresses, usually at the request of authorities.
Your history counts: if your funds passed through a high-risk address, you will be asked for explanations even if you had nothing to do with it.
Regulation (EU) 2023/1113
Travel Rule
Every transfer between crypto-asset service providers carries the originator’s and the beneficiary’s data. Above €1,000, the provider checks whether the self-hosted wallet belongs to the customer.
Law 10/2010 · Art. 6
Ongoing monitoring
Institutions must check that your transactions are consistent with your profile, including the source of funds.
Law 10/2010 · Art. 7
Duty to refrain
If they cannot apply due diligence, they must not carry out the transaction. That is why they hold back unexplained deposits.
Contact
Book a call
Tell us which transaction you want to trace and who needs it: we will tell you whether the explorer is enough or you need a report.
Tracing a wallet: what on-chain tracking is
Tracing a wallet, or on-chain tracking, means following the movements of an address or a transaction on a public blockchain: where the funds came from, where they went and when. To check a transfer, a block explorer is enough. To submit it to a bank, the Tax Agency or a court, you need a document that explains each step and links it to your own records.
USDT, bitcoin and ethereum
Bitcoin, Ethereum and TRON are public: anyone can look up the balance and history of an address. USDT circulates on several networks (TRC20, ERC20 and BEP20, among others), so the first step is to identify the right network. With the hash or TxID of a transfer, you can see whether it is confirmed, the amount, the fee and the sending and receiving addresses.
From tracing to a report
When the tracing has to serve as evidence, it becomes a traceability report, a crypto certificate signed by a lawyer or, in court proceedings, a forensic expert report. Exchanges and banks do their own tracing as obliged entities under Law 10/2010 and Regulation (EU) 2023/1113.
Limits of tracing
The blockchain does not tell you who owns an address, does not show transactions inside an exchange and reveals almost nothing for cryptocurrencies designed to hide amounts and addresses. That is why a good report combines on-chain analysis with exchange histories and bank statements.
Official sources
Key legislation, linked to the official text:
- Law 10/2010 of April 28 on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financingBOE · consolidated text
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 of May 31, 2023 on information accompanying transfers of funds and certain crypto-assetsEUR-Lex · Official Journal of the EU
Legislation and links reviewed in .