Key takeaways:
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If you’ve lost access to a non-custodial wallet but still have the seed phrase, funds can be restored by importing the wallet and setting a new password.
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Custodial wallets can often be recovered through standard email-based password resets and identity verification processes.
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Losing both the password and seed phrase for a non-custodial wallet usually means permanent loss of access to the crypto wallet.
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Beware of recovery firm scams; legitimate recovery services don’t ask for upfront fees and should provide clear documentation and verified track records.Even with all of the technological advancements, one thing remains the same in 2025: People continue to lose their seed phrases and crypto passwords.
According to Ledger analysts, as of early 2025, between 2.3 million and 3.7 million Bitcoin (BTC) is permanently lost. In 2024 alone, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation estimated that losses from cryptocurrency investment fraud were over $9.3 billion. The majority of those impacted were people over 60, who either lost their own money or, worse, fell victim to recovery scams while attempting to retrieve it.
If you have lost your seed phrase, forgotten your wallet password or come across suspicious activity while trying to get help, don’t panic. There are still methods that are legitimate to help you recover your cryptocurrency account.
However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and not all “recovery experts” are looking out for your best interests. Therefore, let’s examine what can work in 2025.
Clarifying lost wallet type
First things first: Figure out what kind of wallet you lost access to. It sounds basic, but this makes all the difference in what you can recover. There are two types of wallets:
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Custodial wallets: Can be found on cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance, Kraken or Coinbase. Losing the password to a custodial wallet can be rectified, as a custodial service manages the private key. As with traditional banks, these platforms usually allow password resets through email or Know Your Customer (KYC) authentication.
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Non-custodial wallets: Cold wallets like MetaMask, Trust Wallet and Ledger don’t hold on to your password or seed phrase. In the case of non-custodial wallets, if you lose both your password and your seed phrase, you may find it hard to recover your cryptocurrency, unless you have backed them up somewhere else.
Most people land in trouble when dealing with non-custodial wallets, especially after hardware failures or simply forgetting their login details.
Did you know? Since the service provider handles the management and security of your private keys, custodial wallets do not offer a seed phrase.
How to retrieve a lost crypto password or seed phrase
Now let’s talk recovery in action. Depending on your situation, here’s a step-by-step plan for crypto wallet access recovery.
Situation A: You lost the password but still have the seed phrase
If you’ve forgotten your password to your non-custodial wallet, such as MetaMask or Exodus, but still have your seed phrase, you can restore access to your wallet by following these steps.
Step 1: Choose the “Import Wallet” or “Restore Wallet” option
Upon logging in to the wallet application, you will be asked whether you want to “Create a new wallet” or “Add an existing wallet.” Choose to add an existing wallet or restore it.
The app may prompt you to choose “Google Drive backup.” Select the email account with your saved seed phrase, and then restore the wallet from the backup. Enter your 12- or 24-word seed phrase carefully.
Step 2: Set a new password
After your wallet is restored using the seed phrase, you will be prompted to create a new password. This will replace the old one for local access.
Situation B: You lost the password on a custodial exchange
If you lost your password on a crypto exchange, follow these steps to restore access to your crypto wallet:
Step 1: Initial password recovery
To start the recovery process, navigate to the exchange’s login page and select “Forgot password?” Enter your account’s registered email address, phone number or username, then follow the on-screen directions.
In order to verify your identity, you can be asked to answer security questions or submit personal documents, depending on the exchange’s security policies.
Step 2: Set a new password
After verification, you can create a new, secure password. Adding two-factor authentication (2FA) to your cryptocurrency wallet can help prevent unwanted access.
Situation C: You lost your seed phrase to a non-custodial wallet
In this scenario, having limited choices makes it harder to get back into your wallet. In most cases, non-custodial wallets cannot be recovered without your password or seed phrase. However, if you wrote it down or saved it digitally, try:
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Searching your files for “.txt” or “.pdf” backups, try using data recovery tools
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Checking password managers
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Looking through emails, cloud drives or photos of handwritten notes.
Did you know? Keeping your seed phrase offline in several safe places, like a safety deposit box in a separate city or with a reliable individual, increases security and guarantees that you may get your cryptocurrency back even if one backup is destroyed or lost.
How to recover a crypto wallet when all else fails
Still locked out? Here are some last-resort options. These are advanced and risky, but for high-value wallets, they might be worth exploring.
Brute-force recovery tools
There are password recovery tools specifically designed for wallet file formats (“.dat” for Bitcoin Core wallets, for example). These tools try millions of password combinations, so if your original password was weak or based on a known pattern, you might get lucky.
But beware: Never download tools from unknown forums. Stick to vetted GitHub projects and read documentation carefully.
Blockchain forensics and recovery experts
If you suspect somebody changed your password in an attempt to get your crypto, some professional recovery firms can go beyond brute force. They use chain-tracing and clustering tools, work with exchanges to freeze assets and can identify money-laundering patterns in stolen crypto funds.
While they can’t recover your seed phrase, they might help track and recover crypto stolen by hackers or scammers, provided you act fast and have strong evidence.
Legal routes
Cryptocurrency theft can also be reported to authorities like Action Fraud or Interpol Cybercrime if you’re dealing with fraud rather than merely a forgotten password. Working with ethical hackers under legal frameworks and filing civil cases with the assistance of blockchain professionals are also options.
How to find crypto wallet recovery services
While there are many crypto recovery services out there, the space is crawling with fakes ready to take advantage of you, especially after you’ve already lost money. Here’s how to identify legit recovery experts:
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No up-front fees: Real firms work on a contingency basis: You only pay if they recover your funds.
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Detailed process: The firm starts with a full case review, looks at your wallet addresses and transaction IDs, then assesses feasibility and provides informed updates with progress reports and realistic timelines.
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Publicly verified reviews: Look for success stories across independent platforms.
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Transparent contact info: Be suspicious of “experts” who only use Telegram or Gmail accounts.
Keep in mind that you should avoid those who guarantee a 100% success rate. Not every wallet can be recovered — even with the strongest tools.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.