<p>The simplest way to get information about the transaction is to use the Blockchain web site.  They have some easy-use-tools that can show you which transactions the funds came from, and the submitting IP address.  Use the URL <a href="http://blockchain.info/tx/_transactionid_" rel="nofollow">http://blockchain.info/tx/<em>transactionid</em></a>.</p>

<p>For example: <a href="http://blockchain.info/tx/cc4ffa39d766fadfc6bd48a2144492e6e7b07c9b4046f7edbad3ec63869dd071" rel="nofollow">http://blockchain.info/tx/cc4ffa39d766fadfc6bd48a2144492e6e7b07c9b4046f7edbad3ec63869dd071</a></p>

<p>I don't think you'll get much information about the IP address, because addresses are not part of the transaction information.  A Bitcoin host only knows the address of the peer that relayed a transaction, which usually isn't the originating address.</p>

<p>You can trace what other transactions your donation came from, but putting a name to a bitcoin address can be difficult.  Your best bet might be to do a Google search for the address of some of the upstream transactions.  If someone used their well-known address for donating, then you might be able to find them.  But if the originating addresses were never put onto a web page by their owners, then you're out of luck.</p>

<p>If you are a government and the funds originated through one of the currency exchanges, you could use a warrant to get whatever information the exchange has on a transaction.  Given the state of privacy rights these days... well don't get me started.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-18T15:28:36.703Z
2013-07-18T15:28:36.703Z
slashingweapon
<p>My non-profit organization received a donation for which no one contacted us to claim credit.  I am intrigued and would like to find out as much as I can about the donor using the blockchain.  What services / tools exist to do this?  Some ideas I have are:</p>

<ul>
<li>Did he/she embed a text message in the transaction?</li>
<li>Can any information be gleaned from the web of transactions involving that address?</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-18T15:22:07.457Z
check out [blockchain.info](http://blockchain.info/)
Loourr
<blockchain>
How do I investigate an address or transaction?
RentFree
# How do I investigate an address or transaction?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-07-18)

My non-profit organization received a donation for which no one contacted us to claim credit. I am intrigued and would like to find out as much as I can about the donor using the blockchain. What services / tools exist to do this? Some ideas I have are:

* Did he/she embed a text message in the transaction?
* Can any information be gleaned from the web of transactions involving that address?

**Tags:** blockchain

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: check out [blockchain.info](http://blockchain.info/)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-07-18. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

The simplest way to get information about the transaction is to use the Blockchain web site. They have some easy-use-tools that can show you which transactions the funds came from, and the submitting IP address. Use the URL [http://blockchain.info/tx/*transactionid*](http://blockchain.info/tx/_transactionid_).

For example: <http://blockchain.info/tx/cc4ffa39d766fadfc6bd48a2144492e6e7b07c9b4046f7edbad3ec63869dd071>

I don't think you'll get much information about the IP address, because addresses are not part of the transaction information. A Bitcoin host only knows the address of the peer that relayed a transaction, which usually isn't the originating address.

You can trace what other transactions your donation came from, but putting a name to a bitcoin address can be difficult. Your best bet might be to do a Google search for the address of some of the upstream transactions. If someone used their well-known address for donating, then you might be able to find them. But if the originating addresses were never put onto a web page by their owners, then you're out of luck.

If you are a government and the funds originated through one of the currency exchanges, you could use a warrant to get whatever information the exchange has on a transaction. Given the state of privacy rights these days... well don't get me started.


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