Checking external bitcoin address balances via JSON-RPC API I'm using bitcoin core json-rpc api in python and am wondering why... 

getreceivedbyaddress()


...doesn't allow me to specify an address that isn't in my local wallet?

The whole blockchain is open, I can search anyone's address/balance via a web browser, so why would the API prevent me checking?

Is there another method for doing this that I'm missing?
Bitcoin Core does not track each individual address, only the addresses associated with your wallet.

There are other clients, such as bitcore-insight and btcd, which maintain a separate address index.

Alternatively, you can implement an index yourself, or run an existing one such as ElectrumX.