With more rollups and appchains coming into the picture, the need for custom data is even more relevant today. Gone are the days when one block explorer like Etherscan fits everyone’s requirements. Instead of a few EVM-compatible chains, we have thousands of EVM rollups on the way. Plus, it’s no longer an EVM-only world; hundreds of L1s are also live today, and more to come. We might have moved from fully public chains to more tailored L1 or L2 chains, but the fundamental values of web3, like transparency and trust, are still maintained. Here comes the role of custom block explorers to fit the architecture of your own chains. But an explorer is just another component of your developer toolbox and requires some substantial investment in infra and management. You might require dedicated indexers, performant GraphQL and REST APIs, smart data pruning, and more, making this small yet significant component a logistical nightmare for you.
Enter Explorer as a Service.
What is Explorer-as-a-Service (EaaS)?
Explorers as a Service” refers to a plug-and-play service model where block explorer functionalities are provided as a managed service, which can be integrated with various blockchain networks, including specialized networks like appchains and rollups. This service model simplifies the process of setting up and maintaining a block explorer for any blockchain, particularly for the newer generation blockchains, because they are not just a mere fork of any chain but are built with multiple modular components like a custom DA or sequencers.
Benefits of Explorer as a Service
Here are some key aspects of Explorers as a Service:
Turnkey Solutions: Providers of Explorers as a Service offer ready-to-use block explorer solutions that can be quickly deployed. This is particularly beneficial for new or smaller blockchain projects that may not have the resources to develop their own explorer from scratch.
Customization: While offering out-of-the-box functionality, these services typically also allow for significant customization to meet the specific needs of different blockchain architectures. This includes tracking unique transaction types, smart contracts, and other network-specific data.
Maintenance and Updates: The service provider handles all aspects of maintenance, updates, and technical support. This ensures the block explorer remains current with the latest blockchain network changes and technological advancements, reducing the technical burden on the blockchain operators.
Scalability: Explorers as a Service is designed to scale with the blockchain network. As transaction volumes and data complexity grow, the service can scale to maintain performance and responsiveness without requiring direct intervention from the network operators.
Enhanced Accessibility: By providing a high-quality, professional block explorer, these services enhance the accessibility and user-friendliness of the blockchain, making it more appealing to developers, investors, and users.
Cost-Effectiveness: Since building and maintaining a custom block explorer can be resource-intensive, using an as-a-service model can be a more cost-effective solution, especially for smaller or emerging blockchain projects.
Explorer as a Service for Appchains & Rollups
Appchains and rollups are specialized blockchain environments designed for efficiency and scalability. They often handle complex, high-volume transactions that standard blockchains might not manage as effectively. However,t with these innovations come unique challenges, especially when it comes to monitoring and analyzing blockchain activity.
Here’s where EaaS shines:
Custom Data Tracking: Appchains and rollups can require monitoring unique metrics or custom transaction paths. EaaS allows you to customize the data you track and how it’s presented, ensuring you always have a clear view of your blockchain’s health and activity.
Real-Time Updates: In fast-moving blockchain environments, having up-to-date data can make or break your project. EaaS provides real-time data updates, giving developers and users the information they need when needed.
Enhanced Security: With the complexity of rollups and appchains, security becomes even more critical. EaaS helps track and report suspicious activities instantly, enhancing your blockchain’s security posture.
TraceHawk for Your Block Explorer Explorer-as-a-Service(EaaS)?
TraceHawk is a reliable name in the Explorer-as-a-Service(EaaS) because it has introduced advanced block explorer features to elevate your Rollup & AppChain Analytics. As an E-a-a-S, TraceHawk provides the following advantages to appchains and rollups;
A comprehensive feature when you are deploying an L3 on Arbitrium. Why? L3s and Appchains built using Arbitrium Orbit have advanced features like on-demand scalability, custom gas tokens, modular data availability (DA), EIP-4844 support, and self-governance. The block explorer must be designed to match up to such a complex need easily. One of TraceHawk’s key trade-offs is extracting on-chain/off-chain data. So, it can easily extract data from off-chain DA layers like Celestia, NEAR DA, or Eigen DA. Thus, it is a smart choice when you are looking for batched L1 transactions as well as transactions that are stored in ALT DAs.
TraceHawk also supports all the latest token standards, such as ERC677 and ERC 4337, along with the former ERC20, ERC721, and ERC 1155 standards.
TraceHawk allows users to access multiple chains, such as Ethereum, Polkadot, Solana, OP Stack, Arbitrum Orbit, ZkSync Era, or Polygon CDK-powered L2/L3s or application-specific blockchains built with top frameworks like Substrate and Cosmos SDK, Avalanche Subnets, and Polkadot Parachains. Hence, as a developer, you get multiple options while deploying a single explorer and extracting data from different blockchains using the same explorer.
TraceHawk also provides while-labeling features, wherein developers have the full discretion to customize the explorer to support their use cases’ specific requirements. Hence, it allows you to save considerable time and expense by launching your own app-specific block explorer using TraceHawk’s E-a-a-S service.
