Trace Configuration
Trace Configuration is the set of controls you use before starting a trace in Wallet Tracer. These options tell Cognivo which network to look at, which address to investigate, which direction to follow the funds, and how far to follow them.
What Trace Configuration Controls
- Paste the wallet address you want to trace into the Wallet Address field.
- Choose a trace direction: Outgoing, Incoming, or Both.
- Pick how many hops to follow (3 is recommended; up to 5 on the free tier).
- Select the chain the wallet is on: Ethereum, Base, or BNB Chain.
- Select Start Trace. Your first trace is free, and signed-in accounts get free daily traces.
Every trace begins from a starting address. The configuration controls shape what the resulting Bubble Map will contain:
- Network - which chain the address lives on
- Wallet address - the starting point of the trace
- Trace Direction - whether to follow funds out, in, or both ways
- Max hops (depth) - how many transaction steps to follow away from the starting address
You set these once, then start the trace. The result is an interactive Bubble Map you can explore.
When to Change It
Most first traces work well with the default settings. Adjust the configuration when you want to:
- Investigate an address on Base or BNB Chain instead of Ethereum
- Follow funds in a specific direction (for example, only where money went)
- Reach further into a chain of transfers by increasing the depth
- Narrow a large trace by reducing the depth
Selecting the Network
Choose the network the address belongs to before starting:
- Ethereum
- Base
- BNB Chain
The same address format is used across these networks, so make sure you select the network where the activity you care about actually happened. Selecting the wrong network can return little or no activity.
Entering and Confirming the Wallet Address
Paste or type the address into the address field. A valid address is a 42-character string starting with 0x, for example:
0xd8dA6BF26964aF9D7eEd9e03E53415D37aA96045
Both uppercase and lowercase hex characters are accepted, and the address does not need to be checksummed. Smart contract addresses are also valid starting points. If the address is not a valid format, the field shows a validation error and the trace will not start.
Trace Direction
Direction decides which way Cognivo follows the money from the starting address:
| Direction | What It Follows |
|---|---|
| Outgoing | Funds leaving the starting address - where the money went |
| Incoming | Funds arriving at the starting address - where the money came from |
| Both | Outgoing and incoming together, for the fullest picture |
Choose Both when you are not yet sure which direction matters. A bidirectional trace is broader and may take a moment longer to complete. See Choosing Trace Direction for more detail.
Max Hops (Depth)
Depth is the number of transaction hops the trace follows away from the starting address. A hop is one step from one address to the next.
- 2 - a focused view of the immediate connections
- 3 - the recommended balance of reach and readability
- Up to 5 - available on the free tier for a wider view
Higher depth reveals more of the surrounding network but produces a larger, busier map that can take longer to build. If you only need the addresses directly connected to your target, a lower depth is clearer.
Cost and Confirmation
- Your first trace is free, so you can try Wallet Tracer before spending any credits.
- Signed-in accounts receive free daily traces as part of their daily credit allowance.
- A Deep Trace is a paid, confirmation-gated action that costs 25 credits. Because of the higher cost, Cognivo asks you to confirm before it runs, so you are never charged without agreeing first.
See Credits & Billing for how credits and daily resets work.
When a Deeper Trace Is Unavailable
If a deeper or wider trace is not available for the network or address you selected, Cognivo shows the level of detail it can provide and explains the limit rather than returning misleading results. You still receive a valid Bubble Map for the reach that is supported, and you can start a new trace with different settings.
What Result to Expect
When the trace completes you are taken to the trace page, where the Bubble Map builds as results come in. Alongside the map you get a set of tabs that break down the same data in different ways, including the Journey, Terminals, Flow Paths, and Lifespan views. Depending on the address activity, a trace typically takes a few seconds to a minute.
Limitations by Network
- Ethereum, Base, and BNB Chain are supported as starting networks.
- Deep fund-flow tracing is focused on Ethereum, where the most complete multi-hop detail is available. Traces on other networks may return a more limited view, and Cognivo will tell you when that is the case.
- The trace direction and depth are fixed at the time a trace is created. To change them, start a new trace.