How to verify a Stellar transaction on a block explorer
You verify a Stellar transaction by looking up its hash in a mainnet block explorer and checking its status, ledger, source, destination, amount, and memo.
Vahe HakobyanEditor-in-chief
Updated Oct 6, 20263 min readFact-checked
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On Stellar, a payment is written to the public ledger when the network closes a ledger. A wallet that shows pending may be behind.
What does verifying a Stellar transaction mean?
Verifying a Stellar transaction means checking its transaction hash on a Stellar block explorer for success. A transaction hash is a unique string for one transaction. A block explorer is a site that reads the public Stellar ledger.
How to verify a Stellar transaction
Start with the hash from the wallet or exchange that handled the payment. Copy the whole string, then use a Stellar mainnet explorer, because testnet hashes do not appear on mainnet.
- 1Get the transaction hashOpen your wallet or exchange history and copy the full hash.
- 2Choose a mainnet explorerUse an explorer set to Stellar mainnet. Testnet hashes do not appear there.
- 3Paste the hashPaste the full hash into the explorer search box. Open the matching transaction.
- 4Check status and ledgerLook for a successful status and a closed ledger number. Stellar does not show a confirmation count, so success is final.
- 5Check source and destinationConfirm the sending account and the receiving account match your payment.
- 6Check amount, asset, and memoMatch the amount and asset code to your expected payment. Read the memo, because exchanges use it to credit deposits.
- 7Review every operationA Stellar transaction can hold more than one operation. Check each operation matches your intent.
What to do after verifying
Save the explorer link and transaction hash with your records. The IRS treats crypto as property, so keep the date, amount, and addresses.
Frequently asked questions
Check for a mainnet explorer and the full hash. Testnet hashes do not appear on mainnet.
Stellar usually closes a ledger within seconds, and success is final.
You can review an account on an explorer, but the hash is the direct check.
A memo is a note on a Stellar transaction. Exchanges often need it to credit a deposit.
