Why Your Available Balance in Leo Wallet May Not Reflect Your Total Account Balance
If you’ve ever used the Leo Wallet and noticed that your available balance doesn’t match the total amount of credits in your account, you’re not alone. This discrepancy can be puzzling, especially when you’re eager to send credits to someone else. Understanding how the wallet manages your funds can clarify why this happens and how you can address it.
Understanding UTXOs and Records
In the Leo Wallet, your credits are stored in units called UTXOs (Unspent Transaction Outputs), also known as records. Think of each UTXO as a separate container holding a specific amount of credits. When you initiate a transaction, the wallet uses these UTXOs to cover both the amount you want to send and the transaction fee.
Basic Scenarios
- Single UTXO Scenario: If you have one UTXO containing 10 credits, you might face difficulties sending any amount. This is because the wallet requires at least two UTXOs—one for the amount you’re sending and another to cover the transaction fee, which is typically 0.025 credits.
- Multiple UTXOs Scenario: If you have two UTXOs, each with 5 credits, you can use one to send 5 credits and the other to pay the transaction fee. Any leftover credits from the fee UTXO will be returned to your wallet as change.
A Practical Example: Sending with Limited Records
Let’s consider a specific scenario to illustrate how this works:
Suppose you have two records in your Leo Wallet:
- Record 1: Contains 8 Aleo credits
- Record 2: Contains 2 Aleo credits
You wish to send a private transaction funded with a private fee. In this case:
- Available Funds for Sending: You can only access the 8 Aleo in Record 1 for the transaction amount.
- Funds for Transaction Fee: The 2 Aleo in Record 2 will be used to cover the transaction fee.
Because the transaction requires one record for the amount being sent and another for the fee, you cannot combine both records to send a total of 10 Aleo. As a result, the wallet will show that only 8 Aleo is available for sending, even though your total balance is 10 Aleo.
Why Your Available Balance Might Be Lower
When you send credits, the UTXOs involved in the transaction become temporarily unavailable until the transaction is settled on the network. This means:
- In-Use UTXOs: The records holding your credits are “locked” during the transaction process. They won’t be accessible for other transactions until the current one is complete.
- Pending Transactions: If you’ve recently made a transaction, the associated UTXOs are still in use. This can reduce your available balance even though your total account balance remains the same.
What You Can Do
To ensure you can access your funds when you need them, consider the following steps:
- Wait for Transactions to Settle: After initiating a transaction, give it a few minutes to be processed and settled on the network. Once completed, the UTXOs will be available again.
- Sync Your Wallet: Make sure your Leo Wallet is fully synchronized with the network. A wallet that’s not 100% synced might not display your most recent transactions or available funds accurately.
- Manage Your UTXOs: If possible, try to receive credits in multiple smaller UTXOs rather than one large one. This gives you more flexibility when sending credits and covering transaction fees.
Future Improvements
The Aleo team is aware of the current limitations regarding UTXO management and is actively working on solutions to enhance the user experience. Upcoming updates aim to make the process more intuitive, reducing the need for users to manage UTXOs manually.
Conclusion
While it can be frustrating to see a lower available balance than expected, understanding how UTXOs and records work in the Leo Wallet can help you navigate this issue. By allowing time for transactions to settle, ensuring your wallet is fully synced, and managing your UTXOs wisely, you can minimize disruptions and make smoother transactions. Rest assured, improvements are on the horizon to make handling your credits easier and more efficient.