Blockchain Explorer Snowtrace.io to Discontinue Etherscan-Powered Explorer
On October 30, 2023, Snowtrace.io, a popular blockchain explorer tool dedicated to the Avalanche C-Chain, announced that it would be discontinuing its Etherscan-powered explorer effective from November 30, 2023 (00:00 UTC). This announcement came through a series of tweets from Snowtrace’s official Twitter handle, @SnowTraceHQ. The Snowtrace team expressed their gratitude towards the Avalanche community (@avax) for their support over the last two years.
Importance of Backing Up Information
The Snowtrace team stressed the importance of backing up crucial information. They specifically urged users to save backups of Private Name Tags and Contract Verification details before the discontinuation date. An official reminder was also issued 17 hours before the post, reiterating the urgency to backup such information, linking to a page on Etherscan’s website for further details regarding the discontinuation of the blockchain explorer.
Possible Reason for Discontinuation
Although the official announcement did not clarify the reason behind the discontinuation, some individuals within the crypto community speculated that the high service costs associated with Etherscan’s Explorer-as-a-Service (EaaS) framework could be a driving factor. Mikko Ohtama, Co-founder of Trading Strategy, estimated the annual EaaS subscription cost to be between one to two million dollars, potentially making it a costly endeavor for Snowtrace to continue its operations under the existing framework.
Ava Labs’ Director of Strategy and Operations Responds
Phillip Liu Jr., the Director of Strategy and Operations at Ava Labs, commented on the development. He mentioned that the protocol is transitioning to “something better” and affirmed that operations would “absolutely not” cease, indicating a probable shift to an alternative solution for blockchain exploration.
Challenges Faced by Blockchain Explorers
The episode underscores the dependencies and potential challenges faced by blockchain explorers leveraging Etherscan’s EaaS framework. It sheds light on the importance of renewing service agreements, ensuring sufficient bandwidth, and maintaining adequate traffic to keep a block explorer operational. The Snowtrace scenario serves as a strong reminder to users about the significance of backing up their data, especially when utilizing third-party services for blockchain exploration.
The Future of Snowtrace and Alternative Solutions
While the exact future of Snowtrace remains uncertain, the proactive communication from its team regarding the discontinuation and urging users to backup their data demonstrates a responsible approach towards handling such transitions. The anticipation now pivots towards what alternative solutions will emerge to fill the void left by Snowtrace’s discontinuation and how Ava Labs plans to navigate this change.
Hot Take: A Shift in Blockchain Exploration
The discontinuation of Snowtrace’s Etherscan-powered explorer highlights the challenges and costs associated with relying on third-party frameworks. As blockchain technology evolves, it becomes crucial for explorers to adapt and find better solutions. The move by Snowtrace signals a shift towards exploring alternative options that can provide more efficient and cost-effective services. This transition opens up opportunities for innovation in blockchain exploration and emphasizes the need for robust backup strategies to safeguard valuable data. As the industry progresses, it will be interesting to see how new players emerge to fill the gap left by Snowtrace and how Ava Labs leads the way in navigating this changing landscape.
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