Ethereum Presale or ICO Wallet Recovery

Ethereum presale (2014) and ICO-era wallets (2015-2018) were usually created through browser tools like MyEtherWallet or the presale client. The access format depends on how the wallet was made.

What you are actually dealing with

• Presale wallet: the 2014 presale produced an encrypted file that is unlocked with the presale password, not a keystore password. The file and password are both required.
• Keystore/UTC file: the standard encrypted JSON from MEW/Geth. File plus password.
• Private key: a 64-character hex key or WIF-style key, often written down or printed. One wrong character changes the address.
• Recovery phrase: later MEW wallets use a 12/18/24-word phrase. The phrase and any passphrase are required.
• Tokens: ERC-20 tokens from ICOs appear on the same Ethereum address: restoring the address restores the tokens.

When professional recovery is the right call

• The presale or keystore password is forgotten: a structured offline search tests candidates against the file's encryption, on a copy.
• The file is damaged or on an old drive that needs data recovery first.
• A phrase is partial or the order is uncertain.
• You are not sure which of several old files or notes belongs to the funded address.

When case assessment is needed

• No file, no key, no phrase, and no backup: an Ethereum address cannot be unlocked from its public address.
• An encrypted file with a forgotten password requires case-specific assessment.

Practical notes

• Never upload a presale or keystore file to a website.
• Keep the address visible on the file or in your notes: it proves which wallet the file belongs to.