Token Loss

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Token loss is possible under multiple scenarios. These scenarios can be grouped into a few related classes:

  • Type 1: Key Management
  • Type 2: Refunds
  • Type 3: Function Calls

Type 1: Key Management

There is a class of token loss scenarios related to key management. Proper key management is one way to avoid this class of errors. Another way is for designers of smart contracts to implement logic which issues new keys allowing for recovery of accounts whose keys have been lost or deleted.

Scenario 1.a: Loss of FullAccess key

A user may lose their private key of a FullAccess key pair for an account which has no other keys. No one will be able to recover the funds. Funds will remain locked in the account forever.

Scenario 1.b: Loss of FunctionCall access key

An account may have its one and only FunctionCall access key deleted. No one will be able to recover the funds. Funds will remain locked in the account forever.

Type 2: Refunds

There is a class of token loss scenarios related to refund receipts. When a receipt is issued for an account, if that account no longer exists, the funds will be dispersed among validators proportional to their stake in the current epoch.

Scenario 2.a: Delete account with non-existent beneficiary

For an account to be deleted, a beneficiary must be assigned. Once deleted, a transfer receipt is generated and sent to the beneficiary account. If the beneficiary account does not exist, a refund receipt will be generated and sent back to the original account. Since the original account has already been deleted, the funds will be dispersed among validators

Scenario 2.b: Account with zero balance receives refund

If an account A transfers all of its funds to another account B and account B does not exist, a refund receipt will be generated for account A. During the period of this round trip, account A is vulnerable to deletion by garbage collection activities on the network. If account A is in fact deleted before the refund receipt arrives, then the funds will be dispersed among validators.

Type 3: Function Calls

There is a class of token loss scenarios related to the failure of function calls.

Scenario 3.a: Successful calls in a failed batch

If a contract function f1 calls two or more other functions f2 and f3, and at least one of these functions f2 and f3 fails, then tokens will be returned from function(s) which fail but tokens will be lost to the function(s) which succeed.

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