How to find a transaction ID on the blockchain?

Practical application of TXID in daily cryptocurrency operations

Each transaction on the blockchain network receives a unique transaction identifier, which is a 64-character string called TXID ( transaction ID ). This is not just an ordinary number - it is the digital signature of your transaction that can be verified in the public ledger.

Why is this important? Imagine you are sending cryptocurrency to an address and you want to confirm whether it has arrived. This is where TXID becomes your tracking tool. It is essential for both documentation purposes and troubleshooting when something goes wrong.

How does transaction ID creation work?

Blockchain networks, including Bitcoin, use the advanced cryptographic function SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit) to generate transaction IDs. This function processes all transaction data - sender's address, recipient's address, amount, and timestamp - and converts them into a unique 64-character hex. Any slight change in the input data would produce a completely different identifier, ensuring the integrity of the entire system.

Where to look for TXID after sending cryptocurrency?

Trading on exchange platforms (CEX)

When you withdraw assets from a centralized exchange, the transaction ID automatically appears in the transaction history. On the most popular platforms such as some CEX, you need to go to the “Transaction History” or “Withdrawals” section. By clicking on the TXID of a given operation, the system will automatically redirect you to the block explorer of the respective network, where you can view the full details of the transaction.

Access via block explorers

All transaction data is publicly available. You can search for any transaction ID yourself by pasting it into the search bar of explorers such as blockchain.com or blockchair.com. This transparency of the blockchain network means that anyone can verify the history of any transaction - although the actual identities of the participants remain anonymous.

Historical examples of TXID

The first transaction in Bitcoin history, which took place between Satoshi Nakamoto and Hal Finney, had the identifier:

F4184fc596403b9d638783cf57adfe4c75c605f6356fbc91338530e9831e9e16

The equally famous transaction in which someone paid for pizza with bitcoin had a TXID:

Cca7507897abc89628f450e8b1e0c6fca4ec3f7b34cccf55f3f531c659ff4d79

You can copy these numbers and paste them into any Bitcoin block explorer to see transactions from the cryptocurrency history.

What to do if you sent funds to the wrong address?

Here, the transaction ID becomes crucial. If you made a mistake - sent funds to an incorrect address or to the wrong blockchain network - the TXID from the withdrawal history will be the first piece of evidence you should provide to the support team. With this identifier, specialists can trace the transaction on the blockchain and assess whether there is any chance of recovering the funds. However, it is important to note that a refund guarantee is not always possible - quickly reaching out to customer support on the target platform always increases the chances of success.