Frequently Asked Questions

Blocko.fun is a real-time blockchain visualizer that transforms complex blockchain data into intuitive visual animations. Instead of staring at endless rows of cryptographic hashes, you watch live transactions flow through Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Base networks as animated "buses" picking up transaction "passengers." This visual approach leverages how 65% of people learn best visually, making blockchain mechanics immediately comprehensible whether you're a student, educator, developer, or crypto enthusiast. Learn more about our educational mission.

Using Blocko.fun requires zero setup. Simply visit the homepage—no wallet, no login, no installation. Use the blockchain selector dropdown (top right) to switch between Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Base. The visualization updates automatically in real-time as new blocks are confirmed on the selected network. Watch green dots (pending transactions) get picked up by animated buses (confirmed blocks) as actual blockchain consensus happens globally. It's like having a window into the world's decentralized financial infrastructure.

Yes, Blocko.fun is 100% free with no paywalls, premium tiers, or hidden costs. We believe blockchain education should be universally accessible. The site is supported by non-intrusive advertising that helps us maintain the infrastructure connecting to production blockchain networks via enterprise-grade RPC providers. Our mission is educational access, not profit maximization.

Absolutely not. Blocko.fun is a pure observation tool—think of it like watching a live traffic camera for blockchain networks. You're not interacting with the blockchain yourself, submitting transactions, or risking any funds. We don't ask for wallet addresses, private keys, or any sensitive information. You can't lose money using our visualizer. It's designed specifically for learners who want to understand blockchain without the complexity (or risk) of actually using it.

Each green dot represents a pending transaction submitted to the blockchain network but not yet confirmed. These transactions are waiting in the mempool (memory pool)—essentially a queue where transactions compete for inclusion in the next block. On Ethereum, you might see hundreds of green dots during peak activity as users submit swaps, transfers, NFT mints, and smart contract interactions. The number of dots corresponds to actual real-time mempool data from blockchain nodes.

The animated bus represents a confirmed block that's been added to the blockchain. Just as a city bus picks up passengers waiting at a stop, a blockchain block collects pending transactions from the mempool and confirms them permanently on the distributed ledger. Each bus displays its block number (position in the blockchain's history) and transaction count (throughput). Bus colors indicate the dominant transaction types within that block—green for transfers, blue for swaps, purple for mints, etc. Watching bus frequency reveals each network's performance: Base buses arrive every 200 milliseconds, Ethereum buses every 12 seconds, Bitcoin buses every ~10 minutes.

The larger colored dots represent Layer 2 blob transactions—a revolutionary scaling innovation. Blue dots are Base batch submissions, red are Optimism, gray are Arbitrum, and black are World Chain. These special transactions bundle thousands of Layer 2 operations into a single Ethereum transaction. For example, one blob might represent 10,000 individual swaps or transfers that happened on Base, all compressed and settled to Ethereum mainnet for security. In 2025, Layer 2 solutions handled 63% of Ethereum transaction volume, and watching these blobs visualizes that massive scalability improvement in real-time.

The visualization divides into two lifecycle stages. The left zone (bus stop area) shows pending transactions that haven't been confirmed yet—this represents the mempool where transactions wait for miners or validators to include them in blocks. The right zone shows executed transactions that have been successfully confirmed on-chain. Watching transactions move from left to right illustrates the complete transaction lifecycle: submission → mempool waiting → block inclusion → confirmation. This visual flow makes abstract blockchain concepts like "transaction finality" immediately tangible.

Each blockchain makes fundamental design tradeoffs between speed, security, and decentralization. Bitcoin intentionally targets ~10-minute block times to maximize security and decentralization through Proof-of-Work mining. Ethereum uses Proof-of-Stake with 12-second slots, balancing speed with Layer 1 security. Base, as a Layer 2 rollup, achieves 200-millisecond block times (following Flashblocks activation) by processing transactions off-chain and periodically settling to Ethereum. Our visualization reflects these real timing differences—you'll see Base buses arriving in rapid succession, Ethereum buses moderately frequently, and Bitcoin buses arriving sporadically but carrying many more transactions per block.

A blockchain transaction is a cryptographically signed instruction to modify the blockchain's state. For Bitcoin, this typically means transferring BTC from one address to another—a value transfer recorded permanently. For Ethereum, transactions are more versatile: sending ETH, trading tokens on a decentralized exchange like Uniswap (which processes over $50 billion in monthly volume), minting NFTs, providing liquidity to DeFi protocols, or executing arbitrary smart contract logic. Every transaction is digitally signed with a private key, broadcast to network nodes, validated by consensus participants, and permanently recorded in the blockchain's immutable history.

The mempool (memory pool) is a waiting area for unconfirmed transactions maintained by each blockchain node. When you submit a transaction, it enters the mempool alongside thousands (sometimes millions) of other pending transactions. Miners (Bitcoin) or validators (Ethereum) select transactions from the mempool to include in the next block, typically prioritizing those offering higher fees. During network congestion, the mempool swells as transaction demand exceeds block space supply, causing fee competition. Our visualization shows this as the bus stop area where green dots accumulate—more dots means higher congestion and likely higher fees needed for fast confirmation.

Gas fees compensate validators for processing your transaction and executing smart contract code. Gas measures computational effort—simple transfers require ~21,000 gas units, while complex smart contract interactions might require 200,000+ gas. You specify a gas price (how much you'll pay per gas unit), and the total fee equals gas used × gas price. During network congestion, gas prices spike as users bid competitively for limited block space. In 2025, average Ethereum gas fees fell to $0.38 thanks to Layer 2 adoption absorbing transaction volume. The "median transfer fee" in our stats shows typical costs for basic ETH transfers in recent blocks.

Layer 1 (L1) refers to base blockchain protocols like Bitcoin and Ethereum—fully decentralized networks where every node validates every transaction. Layer 2 (L2) refers to scaling solutions built on top of L1 networks. L2s process transactions off the main chain using various techniques (rollups, state channels, sidechains), then periodically commit compressed batches to L1 for security and finality. This dramatically reduces per-transaction costs while inheriting L1 security. For example, Arbitrum transactions cost around $0.005, while Base and Optimism offer similar sub-cent fees—all settling to Ethereum's security. Our visualizer lets you observe both: Ethereum L1 blocks and the L2 blob submissions that batch thousands of L2 operations.

The confirmation process follows these steps: (1) You submit a signed transaction to a blockchain node, (2) The node validates the transaction and broadcasts it to peer nodes, entering the mempool, (3) Miners (Bitcoin) or validators (Ethereum) select your transaction for inclusion in the next block based on fee priority, (4) Once included in a block and that block is added to the chain, your transaction receives its first confirmation, (5) Additional blocks built on top provide more confirmations, exponentially increasing irreversibility. Bitcoin traditionally requires 6 confirmations (~60 minutes) for high-value transactions to be considered irreversible, though many exchanges now accept 3 confirmations due to increased network security. Ethereum finality occurs around 12-15 minutes. Base offers near-instant finality through optimistic rollup mechanisms.

Transfer transactions send cryptocurrency from one address to another—the most fundamental blockchain operation. On Ethereum, this typically refers to ERC-20 token transfers like USDC, USDT, DAI, or other standardized tokens. Native ETH transfers appear separately. Transfers represent simple peer-to-peer payments, exchange deposits/withdrawals, protocol rewards, or treasury movements. They're the blockchain equivalent of wire transfers or digital cash payments, except they're censorship-resistant, borderless, and settled in minutes rather than days.

Swap transactions exchange one cryptocurrency for another using decentralized exchanges (DEXs) like Uniswap, SushiSwap, or Curve. Unlike centralized exchanges where you deposit funds and trade on internal ledgers, DEX swaps happen entirely on-chain through smart contracts called automated market makers (AMMs). These protocols use liquidity pools instead of order books—you trade directly against pooled assets, with prices determined algorithmically. Uniswap alone processes over $50 billion in monthly volume and holds a 55% market share of DEX trading. Swaps are extremely common on Ethereum and often dominate block composition during high DeFi activity.

Minting creates new tokens or NFTs on the blockchain. This could be an artist minting a digital artwork as an NFT on OpenSea, a user minting stablecoins like DAI by depositing collateral into MakerDAO, or a protocol distributing governance tokens to liquidity providers. Minting transactions are particularly visible during NFT launches (where thousands of users might mint simultaneously), protocol reward distributions, or new token generation events. Unlike transfers (moving existing tokens), mints actually increase the total supply of a token according to its smart contract rules.

The "other" category includes transactions we can't automatically classify based on method signatures. This might include cutting-edge protocol interactions, custom smart contract functions, multi-step operations (like flash loans), governance voting, staking/unstaking, cross-chain bridges, or novel DeFi strategies. Ethereum's programmability means developers constantly innovate new transaction types—today's "other" might become tomorrow's standard category. These unclassified transactions demonstrate blockchain's open innovation: anyone can deploy new contract logic without permission.

We connect directly to production blockchain networks through Alchemy's enterprise-grade RPC infrastructure—the same infrastructure used by major Web3 companies like OpenSea, dYdX, and Axie Infinity. Every data point you see—block numbers, transaction counts, gas fees, transaction types—streams directly from actual blockchain nodes in real-time. We poll each network at intervals matching their native block production cadence: every 200ms for Base (post-Flashblocks), every 12 seconds for Ethereum, and every 30 seconds for Bitcoin. This ensures you're observing genuine blockchain consensus, not simulations or cached data. Read more about our technology stack and architecture.

Updates happen whenever a new block is confirmed on the selected blockchain—this is real-time visualization, not periodic snapshots. For Base, you'll see new blocks approximately every 200 milliseconds following the Flashblocks upgrade (that's 5 blocks per second!). Ethereum produces blocks every 12 seconds on average through its Proof-of-Stake consensus. Bitcoin creates blocks roughly every 10 minutes, though variance is significant due to the probabilistic nature of Proof-of-Work mining—sometimes 5 minutes, sometimes 15 minutes. WebSocket connections maintain persistent communication between your browser and our backend, pushing block data with minimal latency.

Yes, the numerical transaction counts shown are exactly what's reported by the blockchain for each block. However, for visual clarity and performance, our animation shows representative sampling for very large blocks (200+ transactions). Rendering every single dot for a Base block containing 500 transactions would create visual clutter and strain browser performance. We use proportional sampling that maintains the visual "feel" of block size while keeping animations smooth. The numbers displayed—those are always 100% accurate, sourced directly from blockchain data.

Blocko.fun runs on a deliberately lightweight architecture optimized for performance. The backend uses Node.js with the viem library for type-safe, efficient blockchain RPC communication. WebSocket connections deliver real-time block data to your browser with minimal overhead. The frontend leverages vanilla JavaScript (no heavy frameworks) and HTML5 Canvas for hardware-accelerated animations that perform smoothly even on older devices. This architectural simplicity means fast load times (sub-2 seconds), low server costs (enabling free access), and broad compatibility across devices and browsers.

Currently, Blocko.fun focuses exclusively on real-time observation. The "Recent Blocks" section displays the last 10 confirmed blocks with details, but we don't offer full historical browsing or time-travel features. For exploring blockchain history, we recommend dedicated blockchain explorers like Etherscan for Ethereum, BaseScan for Base, or Mempool.space for Bitcoin. These tools provide comprehensive historical data, advanced filtering, and detailed transaction inspection—complementing our real-time visualization focus.

First, verify your internet connection—the visualizer requires active connectivity to receive real-time blockchain updates via WebSockets. Try refreshing the page (Cmd+R or Ctrl+R). If you're watching Bitcoin, remember blocks only appear every ~10 minutes on average—apparent "freezing" might just be waiting for the next block (this is normal Bitcoin behavior). Check the "Latest Block" number in the stats panel to verify data is still flowing. If the block number isn't incrementing, try switching to a different blockchain to isolate the issue. Persistent problems might indicate temporary RPC provider issues—our backend automatically reconnects within 5 seconds.

Animation performance depends heavily on your device's processing power and available system resources. Try closing other browser tabs and applications to free up CPU and memory. Mobile devices or older computers (pre-2015) might struggle with busy Ethereum or Base blocks containing 200+ transactions, as rendering hundreds of animated dots stresses the graphics pipeline. Switching to Bitcoin (fewer transactions per block, slower block times) often provides smoother performance on resource-constrained devices. Using a modern browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari (latest version) ensures optimal HTML5 Canvas performance. If issues persist, your device likely lacks the graphics capability for real-time rendering of high-throughput blockchains.

Yes, Blocko.fun is fully responsive and optimized for mobile devices. The layout automatically adjusts for smaller screens, navigation elements resize appropriately, and we optimize animations for mobile GPU capabilities. You can watch blockchain activity on iPhone, iPad, Android phones, or tablets. However, the richest experience comes from larger screens (desktop or tablet) where you can see more visualization detail, read stats panels comfortably, and appreciate the full animation canvas. Mobile experience is good for casual observation; desktop is ideal for educational deep-dives or classroom demonstrations.

Error messages typically indicate temporary connectivity issues—either with your internet connection or between our backend and the blockchain RPC provider (Alchemy). The visualizer includes automatic reconnection logic that attempts to restore the connection every 5 seconds. If errors persist beyond 30 seconds, try refreshing the page. Switching to a different blockchain can help isolate whether the issue is network-specific (e.g., Ethereum RPC down but Bitcoin working). Prolonged errors across all networks might indicate temporary infrastructure maintenance—check back in a few minutes. We maintain 99%+ uptime, so extended outages are rare.

We use Google Analytics to collect anonymized usage statistics: page views, session duration, geographic location (country-level only, never street addresses), device type, and browser. This helps us understand how people use Blocko.fun, identify popular features, and make data-driven improvements. We do NOT collect, store, or transmit any personal identifiers (names, emails, phone numbers), wallet addresses, transaction data, IP addresses (beyond what Analytics aggregates), or browsing history. All blockchain data displayed streams directly from public networks to your browser—it never touches our servers for storage.

Google Analytics sets first-party cookies to track basic usage metrics (session length, page navigation, return visits). You can disable this tracking using browser privacy extensions (uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger), enabling "Do Not Track" in browser settings, or using incognito/private browsing mode. Google AdSense may set additional advertising cookies to display relevant ads. We don't use third-party tracking pixels, social media trackers, or sell any data to third parties. Analytics data is used solely for improving Blocko.fun's educational value.

Absolutely safe. Blocko.fun is a read-only observation tool with zero blockchain interaction capabilities. We cannot and do not: initiate transactions, access wallets, request private keys, sign messages, interact with smart contracts, or modify blockchain state in any way. You're simply watching public blockchain data—similar to checking weather.com for weather data. You cannot lose funds, expose private keys, or compromise your security by using our visualizer. We never ask for sensitive information. The site uses HTTPS encryption for secure communication. This is pure education, zero risk.

Absolutely! We actively encourage educators to use Blocko.fun for teaching blockchain concepts, cryptocurrency fundamentals, distributed systems architecture, or financial technology. The visual approach makes abstract cryptographic protocols tangible for students who struggle with purely theoretical explanations. Research shows visual learning techniques improve test scores by 30% and that 81% of students feel more motivated when visual elements are included. Display it during lectures, include it in course syllabi, assign it for homework exploration, or use it as a demonstration tool. No attribution required, though we appreciate credit when possible.

Yes, Blocko.fun contains zero inappropriate content and provides an age-appropriate, jargon-free introduction to blockchain technology. Middle school students (ages 11-13) can grasp the basic concepts through the bus metaphor, while high school students can dive deeper into technical details like gas fees, Layer 2 scaling, and consensus mechanisms. Parents and teachers can use this as a starting point for discussions about digital currencies, the future of financial technology, computer science, and cryptography. It's educational technology explained through relatable analogies rather than intimidating technical specs.

We don't currently offer an embeddable iframe widget, though it's a frequently requested feature on our roadmap. For now, you're welcome to link to Blocko.fun from your website, blog, course management system (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle), documentation, or educational materials. Deep linking to specific blockchains works too: blocko.fun/?blockchain=bitcoin, blocko.fun/?blockchain=ethereum, or blocko.fun/?blockchain=base. If you have a specific embedding use case (corporate training, university course integration, conference presentation), contact us—we're considering custom solutions for educational institutions.

After developing intuition with Blocko.fun, we recommend several learning paths: (1) Explore blockchain explorers like Etherscan or Mempool.space to see raw transaction data behind the visualization, (2) Read foundational whitepapers—Bitcoin's by Satoshi Nakamoto and Ethereum's by Vitalik Buterin—to understand core design philosophies, (3) Take structured online courses on Coursera, Udemy, or MIT OpenCourseWare covering cryptography and distributed systems, (4) Join blockchain communities on Reddit (r/CryptoCurrency, r/Ethereum), Discord servers, or local meetups to ask questions and connect with practitioners, (5) Experiment with testnet transactions (fake money) on networks like Sepolia or Goerli to experience blockchain interaction firsthand.

For blocks with very high transaction counts (200+), rendering every single transaction as an animated dot would overwhelm the canvas and degrade performance significantly. Imagine a Base block with 500 transactions—500 individual dots updating 60 times per second would stress even powerful computers. We use proportional representative sampling: the animation maintains the visual "feel" of block size and activity level while keeping frame rates smooth and comprehensible. The numerical transaction counts displayed are always 100% accurate—we just optimize the visual representation for human perception and technical performance.

The "Median Transfer Fee" stat shows typical costs for recent transactions on the selected network, giving you a rough sense of current fee levels. For detailed real-time gas price tracking, granular fee tier analysis, or predictive fee estimation algorithms, we recommend specialized tools like Etherscan's Gas Tracker, Blocknative's Gas Estimator, or L2Fees.info for Layer 2 comparisons. These tools provide live gas price data, optimal fee recommendations, and historical trends—complementing our visualization's educational focus rather than duplicating operational tools.

We're actively evaluating additional blockchains based on educational value, technical feasibility, and community interest. Top candidates include Solana (ultra-high throughput), Polygon (popular Ethereum sidechain), Avalanche (subnet architecture), and other major networks. Our priority is ensuring reliable data quality and meaningful visualizations—adding blockchains just for quantity would dilute educational impact. If there's a specific blockchain you'd like visualized, let us know via feedback channels. Future additions will balance community requests with technical implementation complexity and maintenance burden.

Blocko.fun is designed as an observation and education tool, not an operational monitoring or alerting platform. For transaction monitoring, wallet activity tracking, smart contract event notifications, or gas price alerts, consider specialized services like Etherscan's mobile app, Blocknative's Mempool Explorer, or wallet notification features in MetaMask/Rainbow. These tools provide customizable alerts, webhook integrations, and real-time notifications for blockchain activity relevant to your specific addresses or contracts—use cases beyond our educational visualization mission.