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Ethereum: How to delete wallet without deleting blockchain
Deletion of a portfolio on Ethereum without deleting the blockchain
As an Ethereum passionate user, you are probably no stranger to the management of your private keys and wallets. However, with regard to resetting or deleting a portfolio without synchronizing, some of you may wonder if the deletion of your Wallet.Datfile is sufficient. In this article, we will explore how to delete a portfolio on Ethereum without compromising the blockchain.
The difference between wallets and blockchain
Before diving into the details, quickly clarifies the difference between a portfolio and the underlying blockchain. A portfolio is a container that stores and manages keys, private addresses and other sensitive information related to your Ethereum account. The blockchain, on the other hand, is a great decentralized public book which records all the transactions carried out on the Ethereum network.
Why deleteWallet.Datmight not be enough
Deleting yourWallet.Datfile may not be enough for several reasons:
- Private keys stored inWallet.Dat
: the private keys that you store in your Wallet.Dat file are not deleted when you delete the entire wallet. They remain hidden on your device until you restore them manually using a recovery sentence or other methods.
- Seed words and recovery sentences : Many portfolios, including those built with electrum or other popular customers, store seed words or recovery sentences alongside private keys in ” Wallet.Dat ”. Deleting the file does not delete this sensitive information.
- Blockchain state : Even if you delete your Wallet.Dat file, the condition of the blockchain remains intact. The changes to the Ethereum network by transactions are always visible on the blockchain.
Alternative methods for deletion
To reset or delete a wallet without synchronizing, consider the following alternatives:
- Electrum wallet : As mentioned above, electrum is a popular portfolio client who stores private keys and seed words in
Wallet.dat. To reset your wallet using electrum, follow these steps:
* Download and install the electrum on your device.
* Launch the electrum and select the “File” menu.
* Click on “Wallet” then “Delete the portfolio”.
- Ethereum portfolio: If you use a specific Ethereum portfolio customer like Metamask or Wallet Trust, you can follow these steps to reset or delete your wallet:
Metamask
- Connect to Metamask.
- Click on the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select “Settings”.
- Scroll down to the “portfoli” section.
- Select the Ethereum portfolio that you want to reset or delete.
Trust wallet
- Open the trusted wallet on your device.
- Click on the menu icon (three vertical points).
- Select “wallets”.
- Click on the three horizontal lines next to the portfolio you want to reset or delete.
Using one of these alternative methods, you can reset or delete your Ethereum wallet without synchronizing. Do not forget to always keep a recovery sentence and private keys in safety, as they are essential to secure your account.