Choosing Trace Direction
Before a trace starts, you choose which direction to follow funds. This determines what the trace reveals about the starting address.
The Three Directions
Outgoing
Follows funds forward from the starting address — where money went after leaving it.
Use this when you want to answer: "Where did funds go from this address?"
This is the most common starting point when tracing suspicious outflows or following a specific movement of funds.
Incoming
Follows funds backward into the starting address — where the money came from before it arrived.
Use this when you want to answer: "Where did the funds in this address originate?"
Useful for understanding the source of funds held or received at an address.
Both (Bidirectional)
Follows funds in both directions simultaneously — outgoing and incoming from the same starting address.
Use this when you want the most complete picture of an address's connections, or when you are not yet sure which direction is most relevant.
A bidirectional trace is broader and may take a moment longer to complete. It is most useful when you need to understand the full network around an address.
How to Choose
On the Wallet Tracer home page, the direction selector appears below the address input. Select a direction and click Start Trace.
If you are starting from Cognivo Chat, you can specify the direction in your message:
Trace outgoing transactions from 0x…
Show me where the funds in 0x… came from
If no direction is specified, Cognivo selects the most appropriate one based on your question.
Changing Direction After a Trace
The trace direction is fixed at the time of creation. To trace the same address in a different direction, start a new trace from the home page or ask Cognivo Chat again with the direction specified.