Side by side
| Owner-signed certificate (VerifiedWallet) | Block explorer label | Blockchain analytics | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it comes from | The holder signs with the wallet's key; we check and counter-sign | The explorer's team or submissions, mostly for public services | Analysis of transaction patterns and other intelligence |
| What it proves | Control of the address, plus whatever was checked (identity, AML, company) | That the explorer believes the address belongs to a named service | A likely link between addresses and an entity |
| Who it covers | Anyone who chooses to verify: people and companies | Mostly exchanges, protocols and well-known entities | Mostly services, plus addresses linked to crime |
| Can you check it yourself? | Yes: both signatures are on the certificate and can be verified without us | No: you trust the explorer | No: you trust the provider |
| Cost to look up | Free (check and API) | Free | Usually a paid product |
| Best for | Confirming a counterparty, a supplier, or your own wallet to someone else | Recognising exchange and protocol addresses | Compliance teams investigating risk and flows |
They answer different questions
An explorer label helps you recognise that an address is, say, an exchange's hot wallet. Analytics tell a compliance team where funds have been and how risky an address looks. Neither can tell you that the individual or small business you're about to pay controls the address they gave you, because most of those addresses carry no label at all. That's the gap an owner-signed certificate fills.
They also combine well: a VerifiedWallet AML-screened certificate includes a screening result from a blockchain analytics provider, alongside proof that the holder controls the wallet.
And other wallet checkers?
Several sites let wallet owners register their address so others can look it up. Each one usually only knows the owners registered with it. If you run one, you can show VerifiedWallet results in your lookups for free, so your users get an answer more often.
Sign once with your wallet: free, no transaction. We counter-sign it and give you a link anyone can verify. From $1.
More guides
How to check who owns a crypto wallet
Addresses don't carry names. Here's what does tell you who's behind one.
What is address poisoning, and how do you avoid it?
A lookalike address in your history, waiting for you to copy it. How to spot it.
Is this crypto address a scam? Check before you send
A one-minute checklist before any crypto payment you can't undo.
Crypto proof of funds: how to prove you hold it
A balance anyone can see, plus a signature only you can make.
Questions
Is a VerifiedWallet certificate the same as a block explorer name tag?
No. A name tag is the explorer's own label. A certificate is the wallet holder's signature, checked and counter-signed by us, which anyone can verify independently.
Do I still need blockchain analytics if I use certificates?
For compliance work, often yes: analytics show where funds have moved. Certificates show who controls the wallet. Our Tier 3 certificates include an AML screening result as well.