Open Source: A Precious Resource

It’s often said that the most important things in life are almost free: land, water, air, and so on. These natural resources are available for us to utilize, enhancing our quality of life. In the technology industry, particularly in the realm of blockchain, there are similarly invaluable resources — open-source codes. The creators of these codes perform an immensely altruistic act by offering the knowledge and tools they’ve developed to the community without demanding high costs.

Open-source blockchain applications provide numerous benefits. They grant the community access to valuable knowledge, significantly reducing the time and effort required for programming. This not only accelerates the industry’s growth but also propels it to new heights. By democratizing access to financial tools, open-source projects have the potential to improve the lives of millions, if not billions, of people around the globe.

Blockscout: The Power of Community

The power of the community can bring about significant influence. If you don’t know, Blockscout is an open-source block explorer project established in 2018 by the programming team of the blockchain PoA Network. Open-source projects often emerge when founders are driven by passion or the desire to address pressing issues within the community. Blockscout was born out of the Ethereum community’s concern over the scarcity of block explorers available in the ecosystem.

Blockscout’s developers outperformed others and earned the award for best block explorer from EthPrize, an organization that incentivizes the development of tools and infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem. This recognition by EthPrize was well-deserved, as PoA Network, the founding organization of Blockscout, has created a remarkable decentralized open-source explorer that any blockchain can utilize.

Blockscout offers the same features as the most popular explorer at the time, Etherscan, but with an improved interface, efficient data validation capabilities, and a block explorer building toolkit packed with dozens of functions and transparent code. These tools and features ensure longevity, allowing anyone to use them, staying true to the open-source spirit.

The blockchain industry is fortunate to have a project like Blockscout. Not only does Blockscout run smoothly, but it is also continuously upgraded to better versions. As evident from earlier iterations, the first version of the Blockscout explorer was quite simple, offering basic functions such as viewing block information, transaction details, and a search box for wallet addresses, hashes, and block numbers.

When compared to the current version, there are noticeable and outstanding improvements in features. The enhanced capabilities and functionalities of Blockscout make it an even more invaluable resource for the blockchain community.

Users can now view more detailed information about blockchains and transactions. They can delve deeper into various aspects of the blockchain through a more intuitive and user-friendly interface.

• Upgraded User Interface and Experience: Blockscout has significantly upgraded its user interface, making it more visually appealing and easier to navigate. The interface settings allow customization of colors and avatars, catering to individual preferences. Features are neatly organized and easily accessible, enhancing the user experience. This not only creates a positive impression of Blockscout but also of the blockchain utilizing it.

• Enhanced Features for Convenience and Security: Blockscout has introduced a series of new features to increase user convenience and security. The platform is quick to integrate trending tools, ensuring that projects can easily incorporate them into its block explorer. For instance, Blockscout recently launched an on-chain domain name search tool, “Name Services Lookup,” and now displays the Farcaster username (if available) associated with wallet addresses. In terms of security, users can safely explore popular applications of a blockchain directly on the block explorer, as these are operated by Blockscout or the blockchain’s programmers themselves.

• API Availability: Blockscout provides numerous APIs to help programmers query data efficiently. These APIs can be accessed via Blockscout Documentation, making it easier for developers to integrate and utilize Blockscout’s features in their projects.

Projects can continue to build their own block explorers at no cost, thanks to Blockscout. The Blockscout team remains enthusiastic about supporting anyone who wants to use their public good products. Their ongoing existence can be attributed to donations and community funding — the primary sources of support for open-source projects.

EthPrize played a crucial role in Blockscout’s early days, but many individuals and organizations have also made significant contributions. These contributions have come through various channels, such as the Gitcoin Grants program, the Giveth protocol, and direct donations. Some funding programs have had particularly substantial impacts, serving as turning points that enabled major and necessary advancements. One notable example is the Optimism Retrofunding Grant.

This strong community and funding support underscore the importance and success of Blockscout as a vital resource in the blockchain ecosystem.

Supporting Blockscout, Supporting the Community, Supporting the Industry

If you are a multichain user, you have likely used the Blockscout explorer at least once, as it currently serves more than 800 blockchains across various ecosystems, including Ethereum, BRC20, and Cosmos. Blockscout plays a crucial role in helping users learn about and understand blockchain more easily, thus supporting thriving communities. This is why it has received so much support.

If you appreciate Blockscout’s value, there are several ways you can contribute.

Financial Contributions

Participating in donation events is a great way to support Blockscout. Even a small donation of $1 helps sustain millions of accounts across more than 800 different ecosystems. Here are some ways you can financially support the team:

• Gitcoin Grants: Donate to Blockscout through Gitcoin Grants, a quarterly donation event that helps young projects raise funds from the community.

• Giveth: This is a free, open-source donation protocol for projects that receive support from users.

• Octant: This project has 100k Ether staked. When you stake $GLM tokens on this application, you can receive Ether or choose to share that Ether (in full or in part) with selected projects in the recent Epoch, including Blockscout.

• You can also donate directly to Blockscout.

• Alternatively, you can utilize Blockscout’s Explorer-as-a-Service premium offering. While Blockscout explorers will always be free, some services require development teams to allocate resources and manpower for maintenance. These services, termed as “premium,” deliver an even more enhanced user experience. By using these services, you not only help improve your own projects but also contribute to supporting the operational costs of the Blockscout team.

Other ways to contribute

• Provide Feedback: Offer suggestions to improve the explorer. Your insights can help enhance user experience and functionality.

• GitHub Interaction: If you have programming skills, participate in Blockscout’s GitHub repository. Contribute code, report issues, or suggest improvements directly to the development team.

• Content Creation: Join the Ambassador program and create content to promote Blockscout. Help educate and engage the community through articles, tutorials, or videos.

• Community Building: Despite being established in 2018, the Blockscout community is still growing. Be a pioneer by actively participating in community-building efforts. Share your knowledge, help others, and foster a supportive environment.

• Engage on Telegram: Join the chat and notification channels on Telegram to interact with the community in real-time. Discuss ideas, ask questions, and stay updated on the latest developments.

💬Chat: https://t.me/blockscoutcommunity

📢Announcement: https://t.me/blockscoutnews

Conclusion

Open source represents more than just a tool — it embodies solidarity and collective progress. Projects like Blockscout not only deliver substantial benefits to individuals and communities but also drive advancements across the entire blockchain industry. As beneficiaries of these projects, we can give back by participating in providing financial support or contributing to their technical and content development. Every contribution, no matter how modest, holds the potential to make a significant impact, fostering the robust and sustainable growth of the blockchain community. Let’s unite to safeguard and advance open-source initiatives like Blockscout, ensuring an inclusive and equitable technological future for all.