The fields
| Field | What to check |
|---|---|
| Status | Success, not Pending or Fail |
| Block | Has block confirmations |
| From / To (Interacted With) | “To” is often the USDT contract itself for token transfers |
| ERC-20 Tokens Transferred | From the payer, to you, amount, token Tether USD |
| Token contract | 0xdAC17F958D2ee523a2206206994597C13D831ec7 |
| Value | Usually 0 ETH for USDT transfers |
A point that confuses people: for a token transfer, the transaction’s “To” or “Interacted With” field is the token contract, and your address appears in the token transfer line. That is how ERC20 works.
Click the token
Open the token from the transfer line. The real USDT page shows Tether USD with 6 decimals and the address above. A copy often shows 18 decimals, few holders and a recent creation. Flash USDT vs real USDT.
If it says Pending
A pending Ethereum transaction can still be replaced or dropped. Wait for it to be included in a block. USDT pending transactions.
Related
Flash USDT ERC20, verifying on BscScan, approval scams.
Three hashes, three different answers
A buyer sends you three hashes and says one of them is your 2,000 USDT payment. Here is what Etherscan shows for each.
ERC-20 Tokens Transferred, as Etherscan shows them
| Transfer | Token | Contract | Amount | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hash A | Tether USD (USDT) | 0xdAC17F958D2ee523a2206206994597C13D831ec7Not the official contract | 2,000.00 | to another address |
| Hash B | Tether USD (USDT) | 0x7a3c…e91dNot the official contract | 2,000.00 | copy token, 18 decimals |
| Hash C | Tether USD (USDT) | 0xdAC17F958D2ee523a2206206994597C13D831ec7 | 2,000.00 | to you, success |
Useful Etherscan tabs
| Tab or section | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Overview | Status, block, timestamp, from, to, value, fee |
| ERC-20 Tokens Transferred | Which token moved, between whom, how much |
| Logs | The raw Transfer event; useful if the summary is unclear |
| State (advanced) | Balance changes caused by the transaction |
| Token page | Contract, decimals, holders, creation date, labels |
Labels and warnings
Etherscan adds labels to many addresses (exchanges, known contracts) and flags some addresses reported for phishing. A “Fake_Phishing” or similar label on the sender or the token is a clear warning. The absence of a label proves nothing; most scam addresses are never labelled.
Spotting poisoning in your history
If you look up your own address, you may see transfers of 0 USDT from addresses that look like yours or your contacts’. Etherscan often hides or greys out zero-value token transfers. They are address poisoning attempts, not payments. Address poisoning.
Internal transactions
If a payment went through a smart contract, Etherscan’s internal transactions tab shows value moved by the contract. For USDT payments this is rarely needed, but it is where you see what a “flash code” contract did with your ETH. Flash USDT smart contract code.
Check ERC20 USDT transaction fields on Etherscan
To check an ERC20 USDT transaction, open Etherscan by typing its address yourself, paste the hash, and read these fields.
| Field | What it must show |
|---|---|
| Status | Success |
| Block | A block number with confirmations |
| ERC-20 tokens transferred | Tether USD (USDT), to your address, with the right amount |
| Token contract | 0xdAC17F958D2ee523a2206206994597C13D831ec7 |
| Value (ETH) | Usually zero for a token transfer; that is normal |
Etherscan USDT checks in your own address history
Your Etherscan USDT history can reveal poisoning and copy tokens before they cost you.
- Open your address and the token transfers tab.
- Look for zero-value or tiny transfers from addresses that look like ones you use.
- Look for tokens named USDT with a contract that is not official.
- Etherscan may hide or flag some of these as spam.
See address poisoning.
Approvals on Etherscan
- Open Etherscan’s token approval checker.
- Connect only if you want to revoke; reading approvals can be done by entering your address.
- Review each spender and the allowed amount.
- Revoke approvals you do not recognise or no longer need.
Pending and dropped transactions on Etherscan
A pending transaction on Etherscan is not yet in a block. It can still be replaced or dropped. If the payer shows you a pending hash, wait for it to confirm before you release anything. See pending USDT transactions.
Questions about verifying USDT on Etherscan
Why does the value say 0 ETH?
A USDT transfer moves tokens, not ETH. The USDT amount is in the token transfer section.
Can I trust a “Tether USD” label?
Only when the contract address matches. Names can be copied.
Questions people ask
How do I verify a USDT transaction on Etherscan?
Check status, confirmations, the ERC-20 Tokens Transferred line and the token contract.
Why does Etherscan show 0 ETH for my USDT transfer?
USDT is a token. The ETH value is usually zero; the USDT amount is in the token line.
Why is the “To” address the USDT contract?
For token transfers, the transaction is sent to the token contract, which moves the tokens to you.
How many decimals does USDT have on Ethereum?
Six.
Sources
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