user114519: If I consolidated 1 bitcoin into an address using a hardware wallet, and put it in cold storage. Can I know after 3 to 5 years that the bitcoin is safe?
So far the research I have is: can I go to https://www.blockchain.com/btc/blocks and search for that address, and see that it was still used once (for the time I put the bitcoin in), and therefore know that the bitcoin is safe?

user13866: Yes, you can use, for example, two or three different blockchain explorers to check the balance for your Bitcoin address(es).
Or you can set up a watch-only wallet on any PC or phone - import the Bitcoin-addresses but not the private keys and the wallet cannot spend the money, only monitor. The money will be shown by the wallet as "watch-only" or "non-spendable" (depending on the wallet). It will show you any transactions involving money at that bitcoin-address.

114519: <p>If I consolidated 1 bitcoin into an address using a hardware wallet, and put it in cold storage. Can I know after 3 to 5 years that the bitcoin is safe?</p>
<p>So far the research I have is: can I go to <a href="https://www.blockchain.com/btc/blocks" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.blockchain.com/btc/blocks</a> and search for that address, and see that it was still used once (for the time I put the bitcoin in), and therefore know that the bitcoin is safe?</p>
 13866: <p>Yes, you can use, for example, two or three different <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=blockchain+explorer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">blockchain explorers</a> to check the balance for your Bitcoin address(es).</p>
<p>Or you can set up a watch-only wallet on any PC or phone - import the Bitcoin-addresses but <em>not the private keys</em> and the wallet cannot spend the money, only monitor. The money will be shown by the wallet as &quot;watch-only&quot; or &quot;non-spendable&quot; (depending on the wallet). It will show you any transactions involving money at that bitcoin-address.</p>
