Ether.li: A Comprehensive Guide to Ethereum Wallet Recovery in 2026

Before Ether.li shut down years ago, it stood out as a security-first Ethereum wallet thanks to its multi-signature feature. But Ether.li’s discontinuation doesn't mean crypto on this wallet is gone for good. If you’re searching for Ether.li wallet recovery, it’s still possible to reclaim your ETH with the right credentials.

Granted, the multiple approvals for transactions make Ether.li recovery a little more complex, but your funds still remain on the blockchain. That means Ether.li recovery is possible, especially with the right info and support from experts like ReWallet. Let’s walk you through how to recover your Ether.li wallet step-by-step to help you regain access safely.

Ether.li was a multi-signature Ethereum wallet made by three developers with close ties to the crypto custodial company BitGo: Mason Borda, Ben Chan, and Barath Chandrashekar. In the early days of Ethereum, Ether.li became well-known as an easy way to access multi-signature security without deep technical knowledge. All you needed to send transactions from this wallet were two out of the following three signatures:

• Your user account.
• The Ether.li signature.
• The so-called “recovery account.”

When the service was operational, you could start transactions simply by logging in and signing with your user account. After that, you would receive an SMS with a PIN. By entering the PIN correctly, you’d trigger the Ether.li signature to complete the transaction.

Ever since Ether.li’s discontinuation in 2017, the website and its supporting services are no longer operational. You can’t log in, nor can you receive SMS codes when you start a transfer. That means the Ether.li signature is permanently unavailable.

However, any funds on your Ether.li wallet aren’t irrecoverably lost. Remember that the “recovery account” could be used instead of the Ether.li signature.

Since the Ether.li wallet only needs two out of three signatures, you can still authorize transactions using your user account and your recovery account. To learn more about this recovery account, we need to talk about the Ether.li recovery sheet.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of the Ether.li recovery sheet in Ether.li wallet recovery. This isn’t just a helpful reference; it's the single most critical asset to regain access to your wallet.

So, what is this recovery sheet, and why is it so important? Back when you created your wallet, Ether.li generated this two-page file designed to capture everything required to reconstruct access without relying on their platform.

Here’s what that sheet contains: ​

• Page 1 lists your key addresses, including the user key address, the backup key address, and the main Ether.li wallet (contract) address.
• Page 2 contains the sensitive pieces, such as your backup private key, your encrypted user private key, and the information needed to decrypt and use them.

In simpler terms, the two keys you need are on the recovery sheet: ​

• The user key (i.e., your primary signing key)
• The backup key (i.e., your recovery/co-signing key)

These correspond directly to the signatures you’ll need now that the Ether.li signature is gone.

Ether.li introduced this recovery sheet because multisig wallets can become unusable if one signing party disappears (which actually happened here). The sheet was their way of future-proofing access, so users weren’t permanently dependent on the platform itself.

For those who’ve lost this information or don’t have a complete sheet, recovery isn’t as clear-cut. In these cases, it’s best to work with professional crypto wallet recovery services like ReWallet that have experience with the recovery of legacy Ethereum wallets like Ether.li.

One technical feature that makes Ether.li recovery tricky is how the private keys were stored. Ether.li didn’t use a standard Ethereum key format. Instead, it applied its own encryption method that needs proper decryption. Put another way, you can’t simply import the keys into another Ethereum wallet and expect them to work. ​ The most reliable way to handle this challenge is with the BitGo SDK because it supports the encryption scheme Ether.li used. This step converts your encrypted key from the recovery sheet into a usable “bare” private key that standard Ethereum tools can understand. After you input your encrypted key and password into the BitGo SDK, it outputs the decrypted private key.

Luckily for users, this isn’t just theoretical: It’s been tested in practice. When Ether.li first went offline, ReWallet successfully decrypted the keys locally using the BitGo SDK by running a small server and sending a decryption request to it. ​ Once you’ve decrypted both keys, you’re effectively back in control. You just need to execute the transaction using a compatible Ethereum client. A common approach is to use Geth (Go Ethereum), which gives you direct control over key management and transaction signing. ​ For more details, let’s go through how the process works in a practical, step-by-step way:

You’ll need a machine with Node.js tooling available. Start by installing the required packages and launching the BitGo Express server: ​

1. Install dependencies (npm, git, curl).
2. Install the BitGo SDK via npm.
3. Navigate to the BitGo directory and start the local server.

Once running, the server will be available at:

• http://localhost:3080

If you see output confirming the server is running, you’re ready for the next step.

In a second terminal window, you’ll pass your encrypted key and password to the local BitGo server using a simple HTTP request.

• Define your password (the one used to encrypt the key).
• Define your encrypted key (from the recovery sheet).
• Send both to the /decrypt endpoint.

One important detail here: The encrypted key must be properly escaped, meaning quotation marks inside it need to be prefixed with backslashes. If this isn’t done correctly, the request will fail.

As long as everything is set up properly, the server will return your decrypted private key.

You’ll need to run the same process for both:

• The user key.
• The backup key.

Once both are decrypted, you have full control over the two remaining signatures required by the wallet. From here, the process continues as before: Import the keys into a client like Geth, initiate the transaction with one key, and confirm it with the other.

Even though the BitGo step is a bit technical, it’s a proven and reliable method. In fact, for some Ether.li users, it’s the turning point in their Ether.li recovery process.

Although it’s possible to restore an Ether.li wallet using the above strategy, there are many potential obstacles you may run into. A few of the most common issues ReWallet has encountered when it comes to Ether.li recovery include: ​

• A lost or forgotten password to decrypt the user or backup key.
• Missing, deleted, or corrupted recovery PDF sheet.
• Technical bugs or failures in older recovery workflows, especially those depending on legacy infrastructure.
• Unable to complete fund transfer during recovery due to missing signatures, incorrect setup, or insufficient ETH for gas fees.

If you’re still struggling with Ether.li wallet recovery, consider reaching out to ReWallet. Our team of crypto wallet recovery experts has extensive experience helping clients with issues restoring the ETH in their Ether.li accounts. Whatever your specific issue is, ReWallet can help identify the problem and explain whether Ether.li recovery is possible. Contact ReWallet today to explore your options for Ether.li wallet recovery.

If you’ve successfully regained access to your Ether.li wallet, you should prioritize moving your funds out ASAP. Transfer everything to a new wallet rather than continuing to use the recovered Ether.li setup. The Ether.li address and its multisig structure are legacy systems that shouldn’t be used as a long-term storage solution.

For your security, consider using a hardware wallet by a reliable manufacturer or a reputable software wallet that employs current Ethereum standards. These options provide better usability and compatibility with the Ethereum ecosystem.

Finally, make sure to secure your new wallet with fresh backups of your recovery phrase stored in a safe, offline location. These details will be vital should you need to restore access to this account.