Bitcoin Forum

hi all:

I am not a technical person but i would like to know is that possible to destroy a ERC20 token? Destroy mean delete the whole blockchain created? Is that possible? Thank you.

Hello coingal2017,

It is only possible to destroy an ERC20 token if the creator of the token has implemented a selfdestruct function or calls this function from the contract. Check out the following guide to learn more about the solidity programming language here (http://solidity.readthedocs.io/en/develop/introduction-to-smart-contracts.html#a-simple-smart-contract).

With kind regards,

The Anycoin Direct team

hi Any Coin Direct Support:

Thank you for your reply. If we do not have such functions in the contract. Can we destroy it? Or we can "burn" method to wipe off this token from ETH blockchain? Or we have to create a smart contract to destroy this token?

https://medium.com/@hodl50/how-to-burn-tokens-with-mew-bbf279a09798

Please kindly advice. Thank you.

It really depends on your contract, we suggest you check out the following post here (https://ethereum.stackexchange.com/questions/39762/is-it-possible-to-delete-a-smart-contract-if-selfdestruct-not-implemented-in-i). It explains exactly when you can terminate the contract and how in the answers.

If you don't have pre-planned it, I don't think it would be possible to fully destruct the token when it's already been distributed to public.
If you haven't distributed it, you can burn it by sending to to a burn address.
For a token already in circulation, you can announce it would be rendered useless and won't have any exchange value.
Not actively supporting the exchange would ultimately make the token dead anyway. But users can still keep it and trade for any value if they want.

Hi Tipstar & Anycoin Direct Support:

Thank you for your reply.

Tipstar,It is not yet on public circulation.  how to burn it by sending to to a burn address?

Can we burn the token using this method? https://medium.com/@hodl50/how-to-burn-tokens-with-mew-bbf279a09798

That instruction is only for hodltoken... which means it won't work for any other tokens. You've to understand that as explained above, it's got to be a predetermined function of the smart contract. If you create a token, then yes, you can always destroy it by setting parameters that allow for it (burning). Some projects do this to control circulation. If you didn't create a token, then you can't burn it, simple as that, unless the creators gave you a direction (like your post above).

Hi Slaman29:

Thank you for your reply. So what is the best way for us to destroy this token? We have no "self destruct" contract preset on the token.

ok, got it. Cannot be destroy if we do not preset it during the creation. Thank you.

Yes i think this option is there for the creator, just like after the end of an ico they burn the unsold tokens or swap the tokens deleting the old ones, similarly they can also delete it.

yes, only during the creation of the token. after that you can't change it anymore.

Sending all of your tokens to the address https://etherscan.io/address/0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 would burn your tokens.
It's the easiest way for your situation.

Really covfefe...... then this is the best way to do It. So the whole “token” will be dissapear from eth blockchain? What if we still have some token left on which did not send to this address.

Still the token is in the eth blockchain and not disappear. sending to that address some token will be burn but if had token left in other address those token still exist in eth blockchain. You can only destroy whole token if you add self destruct code or function burn at the time you create the token.

I want to laugh at this question. I think so, but I don't know how to do it, and I can't do it. This is something that the creator can do. It is the person who created it can do this when he can find a replacement. Under normal circumstances, I will not destroy it casually. I think so.

Thanks Andreman23 for your explanation. Truly appreciate it.

Well. i am asking a very silly question because i am not familiar with smart contract. Anyhow, i truly appreciate all the answers and guidance given. It help me a lots. Thank you very much everyone.  :) :) :)