What Transaction IDs (Txid) Are and How It Can Be Used to Track Transactions

What Is a TXID?

A transaction ID (TXID) is a unique string of letters and numbers assigned to each transaction on a blockchain. This identifier acts as a digital fingerprint for cryptocurrency transactions, allowing them to be easily tracked and verified on the blockchain.

Users can look up the TXID on a blockchain explorer, such as Etherscan (for Ethereum), to view key transaction details—including the amount, date and time, sender's and recipient's addresses, and the transaction status (whether it has been confirmed or failed)

Famous Examples of TXID

Several famous examples of Transaction IDs (TXIDs) have become notable milestones in the history of blockchain technology. Some of them include;

Bitcoin's Genesis Block

One of the most famous TXIDs in blockchain history is tied to Bitcoin’s Genesis block, the first block ever mined on the network. This TXID accounts for the first transaction on Bitcoin, where Satoshi Nakamoto mined block 0 and received a reward of 50 BTC in early 2009. 

The transaction ID is 4a5e1e4baab89f3a32518a88c31bc87f618f76673e2cc77ab2127b7afdeda33b.

Bitcoin Pizza Day

This string of alphanumerical figures is one of the most symbolic items in crypto history. The TXID is associated with the widely celebrated Bitcoin Pizza Day, where Laszlo Hanyecz used 10,000 BTC to purchase two pizzas on May 22, 2010. This day is considered a milestone for the flagship cryptocurrency, as it represents the first time BTC would be used as a medium of exchange. 

The transaction ID is a1075db55d416d3ca199f55b6084e2115b9345e16c5cf302fc80e9d5fbf5d48d. 

Silk Road Seizure

This TXID is associated with the United States government’s seizure of Bitcoin worth around $3.36 billion from James Zhong in 2021. Zhong had stolen a significant amount of Bitcoin (over 50,000 BTC) from Silk Road, a darknet marketplace, in 2013. In the forfeiture, a particular transfer saw more than 40,000 BTC transferred to the US Justice Department’s wallet address.

The transaction ID is 5435a6f76793a55e20626fb3fda796e93462f62ccb0f244c382127043f495451.