Snowtrace.io to Shut Down Blockchain Explorer Powered by Etherscan
Snowtrace.io, a popular blockchain explorer tool for Avalanche (AVAX), has announced that it will be shutting down its website on November 30. The platform, which is powered by Etherscan’s Explorer-as-a-Service (EaaS) toolkit, clarified that only the explorer powered by Etherscan will be affected.
Users of Snowtrace.io are advised to save their backup information, including private name tags and contact verification details, before the shutdown date. While the team behind Snowtrace did not explicitly state the reason for the closure, some speculate that it may be due to the high service fees associated with Etherscan’s EaaS toolkit.
Decentralizing Smart Contract Verification
Mikko Ohtama, co-founder of tradingprotocol, expressed the need for decentralized smart contract verification. He argued that regulators and others may question the reliability of a private company hosting the source code in Malaysia. Ohtama emphasized that while EtherScan is a good product, smart contract verification should be decentralized.
Ava Labs’ head of strategy and operations, Phillip Liu Jr., added that Snowtrace.io is “moving onto something better” and will not cease operations entirely. It appears that they are seeking an alternative solution to replace Etherscan’s services.
Discontinuation of Block Explorer
Etherscan’s EaaS service offers blockchains a block explorer and application programming interface (API) solution for a fee. However, a block explorer may be discontinued if there is no renewal of the service agreement, insufficient bandwidth, or limited traffic. In such cases, users are advised to save their data before the shutdown occurs.
The discontinuation announcement was made on Twitter by Snowtrace.io:
The instance of Snowtrace by @etherscan will be discontinued on 30th November (00:00 UTC)
Thank you @avax and the community for the last 2 years of support and we wish you the best moving forward— Snowtrace.io (@SnowTraceHQ) October 30, 2023
As Snowtrace.io prepares to shut down its blockchain explorer, users are encouraged to secure their data and explore alternative solutions for their needs.
Hot Take: Snowtrace.io Seeks a Better Solution to Decentralize Smart Contract Verification
Snowtrace.io’s decision to shut down its Etherscan-powered blockchain explorer highlights the need for decentralized smart contract verification. By seeking an alternative solution, Snowtrace.io aims to address concerns about relying on a private company for hosting the source code. This move reflects a growing demand for more transparent and decentralized approaches in the crypto space. As the industry evolves, it is essential for platforms to prioritize security and decentralization to meet regulatory requirements and gain broader acceptance.
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