If you sent cryptocurrency to a platform that turned out to be a fraud, there’s one piece of information worth more than any screenshot: the hash of each transaction. With it, you can confirm the transfer on the blockchain, see where the money went, and start tracing it.
Short answer
The transaction hash, also called the TXID or transaction ID, is the unique code that identifies a cryptocurrency transfer on a blockchain. You’ll find it in the details of each withdrawal on your exchange or in your wallet’s activity. It’s public, sharing it doesn’t give anyone access to your funds, and the FBI asks you to include it in your reports.
What a transaction hash is
Every time cryptocurrency is sent, the network records the transaction on its blockchain and assigns it a unique identifier: a long string of letters and numbers. That identifier is the hash, or TXID. With it, anyone can look up the date, the amount, and the sending and receiving addresses of that transfer on a block explorer.
Hash, address, and private key: not the same thing
| Item | What it is | Can you share it? |
|---|---|---|
| Hash or TXID | Identifies a transaction that has already taken place | Yes. It’s public, and it’s what the authorities ask for |
| Address | Identifies a wallet that sends or receives | Yes. It’s public; anyone sending you funds needs it |
| Private key or seed phrase | Gives full control over a wallet | Never. Anyone who has it can empty your wallet |
Where to find the hash
- On an exchange (Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, or another): open your withdrawal or send history, open the details of the withdrawal, and look for a field called “TxID,” “Hash,” or “Transaction ID.” There’s usually a button to copy it or view it on the explorer.
- In a wallet (MetaMask, Trust Wallet, or another): go to the activity or history, tap the transaction, and choose “View on explorer,” or copy the ID.
- At a bitcoin ATM: keep the receipt, which usually shows the destination address and the amount. If the hash isn’t on it, ask the ATM operator for the transaction record.
- If you can’t find it: write down the date, time, amount, and destination address. With that information, the hash can be located later.
How to check it on a block explorer
Each network has free public explorers: for example, Etherscan for Ethereum or Tronscan for TRON. Paste the hash into the search bar and you’ll see the transaction’s status, date, amount, and addresses. You don’t need to sign up or provide any personal information.
How to recognize the network
Ethereum addresses start with “0x,” and TRON addresses start with “T.” If you sent USDT, the network matters: it’s the same coin on different blockchains. We explain this in USDT frozen on a platform.
Why it matters so much
- For your report: the FBI asks you to include in your IC3 report the addresses, the amount and type of cryptocurrency, the date and time, and the ID (hash) of each transaction.
- For tracing: starting from the hash, the path of the funds can be followed to identifiable services, such as exchanges. That’s how our crypto tracing works.
- For your bank or the exchange: it shows where the money went and when.
No one needs your seed phrase
If someone asks for your seed phrase, your private key, or remote access to “verify” a hash or “recover” your funds, it’s a scam. Review the signs of a recovery scam.
Official sources
- FBI · IC3: guidance for victims of cryptocurrency scams (2023) — transaction details to include, including the hash
- FBI · IC3: what to include in your report (June 2026) — wallet addresses, screenshots, and information about the apps
Already have your hashes? Send us your case review request and we’ll tell you, at no cost, whether it’s worth tracing the funds.
