Title: URI scheme for Blockchain references / exploration
Author: Marco Pontello <marcopon@gmail.com>
Status: Draft
Type: Standards Track
Created: 29 August 2015
</pre>
==Abstract==
This BIP propose an URI scheme for looking up blocks, transactions, addresses on a Blockchain explorer, or in general to make proper Blockchain references
==Motivation==
The purpose of this URI scheme is to enable users to handle all the requests for details about blocks, transactions, etc. with their preferred tool (being that a web service or a local application).
Currently a Bitcoin client usually point to an arbitrary blockchain explorer when the user look for the details of a transaction (es. Bitcoin Wallet use BitEasy, Mycelium or Electrum use Blockchain.info, etc.).
Other times resorting to cut&paste is needed.
The same happens with posts and messages that reference some particular txs or blocks, if they provide links at all.
: (optional) to uniquely point to a specific chain, the hash of the corresponding genesis block is used (see [https://github.com/jtimon/bitcoin/commit/3191d5e8e75687a27cf466b7a4c70bdc04809d39 Bitcoin src/chainparams.cpp]). In principle some kind of alias/mnemonic could also be used, but that is out of the scope of this BIP, and maybe could be developed in another subsequent one.
From the point of view of a wallet developer (or other tool that need to show any kind of Blockchain references), using this scheme mean that he can simply make it a blockchain: link and be done with it, without having to worry about any specific Blockchain explorer or provide a means for the user to select one.
Blockchain explorers in turn will simply offer to handle the blockchain: URI, the first time the user visit their website, or launch/install the application, or even set themselves if there isn't already one.
Users get the convenience of using always their preferred explorer, which can be especially handy on mobile devices, where juggling with cut&paste is far from ideal.
