Fraud, Security, DApps, Scams, Web3

The skyrocketing adoption of crypto leads to unprecedented blockchain activity across a vast range of networks and protocols, but it also introduces risks of the same scale. Even experienced crypto users who put their trust in raw wallet data are often blindsided by onchain scams, turning transparency into a double-edged sword. In 2024 alone, illicit cryptocurrency transactions hit a record $51 billion, with more recent reports linking over $649 billion worth of stablecoin flow to high-risk addresses.

Increasingly sophisticated scams, like address poisoning — where attackers send tiny transactions from lookalike addresses to trick users — are becoming alarmingly common. In one case, a scammer duped a crypto whale out of $68 million in an address poisoning attack.

Cases like this show that reading a blockchain explorer isn’t as straightforward as it once seemed. Simply seeing a token in your wallet or an incoming transfer doesn’t guarantee it’s legitimate. Users need context and warnings, not just columns of numbers.

When transparency alone is not enough

Traditional block explorers, such as Etherscan, have historically provided users with neutral data, which includes balances, addresses and transaction details. Without assessing potential risks, these platforms left users to interpret safety on their own. Scammers exploit this neutrality by airdropping phishing tokens to trick users or utilizing address poisoning tactics that fool victims into copying malicious addresses. Without embedded security alerts, blockchain explorers unintentionally lend credibility to fraudulent activities.

Recognizing these blind spots, the industry is shifting to strengthen security. Blockchain explorers are evolving from passive lookup tools into proactive sentinels. Several explorers have begun integrating risk analytics into their interfaces.

Interactive exploration for enhanced safety

Blockchair, a prominent multichain explorer supporting numerous blockchains, takes this blockchain security evolution one step ahead with its newly introduced feature designed to embed third-party tools and safety checks right into each address page. According to Blockchair, this new tool, named dApp Gallery, turns users’ address page into an interactive hub, showcasing ways to engage with blockchain data beyond just viewing numbers.

Users can now access specialized third-party tools, such as AML risk analysis, airdrop alerts and printable reports, directly from the explorer interface, without needing external resources.

"Partnering with Web3 Antivirus to integrate their Risk Score metrics into Blockchair’s dApp Gallery aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver transparent, user-focused data,” said Maxim Surin, partnerships at Blockchair, adding: “Web3 Antivirus’s Risk Scores provide critical insights, making our platform a go-to resource for essential blockchain exploration.”

By consolidating security tools into a single interface, Blockchair bridges the gap between raw blockchain data and practical insights, a move widely praised within the Web3 community.

Security scoring arrives on the front lines

A standout feature within Blockchair’s dApp Gallery is the integration of Web3 Antivirus’s wallet scoring. Web3 Antivirus is a comprehensive suite whose core mission is to protect crypto users from scams, phishing attempts and malicious wallet interactions.

In Blockchair, Web3 Antivirus’s tool provides a Toxic Score for any given address — a risk rating indicating potential malicious activity such as scams, phishing or sanctions-related transactions. Blockchair bakes this insight directly into its explorer pages: a widget labeled “Wallet Scoring by Web3 Antivirus” displays an address’s Toxic Score and risk level in real time.

For instance, Web3 Antivirus effectively identifies poisoned addresses — wallets attempting to deceive users through minimal transactions. If a wallet has engaged in address poisoning, the Toxic Score immediately flags it, alerting users before they accidentally interact with a fraudster. This integration transforms Blockchair’s explorer pages from mere information displays into active warnings about possible threats.

This kind of integrated alert can be lifesaving, having already prevented costly mistakes on other platforms. In one real example, a user attempting to transfer $80,000 was stopped when the security system flagged the recipient's wallet for terrorism financing links. The transaction was aborted thanks to an instant alert, likely sparing the user from irretrievable loss or grave consequences. By bringing similar capabilities into block explorers, users get early warnings right at the point of decision, when they’re researching an address or token.

Setting a new standard for trust in Web3

The emergence of security-enhanced blockchain explorers like Blockchair represents a broader shift toward proactive user protection in crypto. Rather than expecting every user to interpret blockchain complexities independently, these tools automatically surface security warnings and contextual insights. This is particularly vital as scammers become increasingly inventive. A blockchain address that looks random and harmless may hide a history of fraud. Now, explorers can tell you that at a glance.

It’s a balancing act, adding safety features while preserving the neutral, open nature of blockchains, and the industry appears to be finding that balance. Other explorer projects and wallets are likely to follow suit, integrating threat intelligence to shield users from pitfalls like fake tokens or copycat addresses.

In the end, improving user trust benefits everyone: users transact with more confidence, legitimate projects face fewer incidents and the Web3 ecosystem as a whole becomes more resilient. Blockchair’s dApp Gallery and Web3 Antivirus’s Toxic Score integration exemplify this new wave of user-centric security, where transparency and safety go hand in hand.

Demo available

For users interested in testing this technology firsthand, Cointelegraph offers a live wallet checker tool powered by Web3 Antivirus. Users can simply input any wallet address to instantly view its Toxic Score and associated risk analysis.

This kind of embedded security insight may soon become a standard feature of blockchain exploration, turning block explorers from mere windows into guardians of the decentralized world.

Find out more about Web3 Antivirus and Blockchair

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