diff --git a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
index a6bb2c2d2c..aebcc29eb8 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/chaincmd.go
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ func dump(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	triedb := utils.MakeTrieDatabase(ctx, db, true, true) // always enable preimage lookup
+	triedb := utils.MakeTrieDatabase(ctx, db, true, false) // always enable preimage lookup
 	defer triedb.Close()
 
 	state, err := state.New(root, state.NewDatabaseWithNodeDB(db, triedb), nil)
diff --git a/cmd/utils/flags.go b/cmd/utils/flags.go
index f24ca66581..9743a7b9ca 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/flags.go
@@ -268,6 +268,7 @@ var (
 	StateSchemeFlag = &cli.StringFlag{
 		Name:     "state.scheme",
 		Usage:    "Scheme to use for storing ethereum state ('hash' or 'path')",
+		Value:    rawdb.HashScheme,
 		Category: flags.StateCategory,
 	}
 	StateHistoryFlag = &cli.Uint64Flag{
@@ -1720,9 +1721,15 @@ func SetEthConfig(ctx *cli.Context, stack *node.Node, cfg *ethconfig.Config) {
 	if ctx.IsSet(StateHistoryFlag.Name) {
 		cfg.StateHistory = ctx.Uint64(StateHistoryFlag.Name)
 	}
-	if ctx.IsSet(StateSchemeFlag.Name) {
-		cfg.StateScheme = ctx.String(StateSchemeFlag.Name)
+	// Parse state scheme, abort the process if it's not compatible.
+	chaindb := tryMakeReadOnlyDatabase(ctx, stack)
+	scheme, err := ParseStateScheme(ctx, chaindb)
+	chaindb.Close()
+	if err != nil {
+		Fatalf("%v", err)
 	}
+	cfg.StateScheme = scheme
+
 	// Parse transaction history flag, if user is still using legacy config
 	// file with 'TxLookupLimit' configured, copy the value to 'TransactionHistory'.
 	if cfg.TransactionHistory == ethconfig.Defaults.TransactionHistory && cfg.TxLookupLimit != ethconfig.Defaults.TxLookupLimit {
@@ -2158,7 +2165,7 @@ func MakeChain(ctx *cli.Context, stack *node.Node, readonly bool) (*core.BlockCh
 	if gcmode := ctx.String(GCModeFlag.Name); gcmode != "full" && gcmode != "archive" {
 		Fatalf("--%s must be either 'full' or 'archive'", GCModeFlag.Name)
 	}
-	scheme, err := rawdb.ParseStateScheme(ctx.String(StateSchemeFlag.Name), chainDb)
+	scheme, err := ParseStateScheme(ctx, chainDb)
 	if err != nil {
 		Fatalf("%v", err)
 	}
@@ -2217,12 +2224,47 @@ func MakeConsolePreloads(ctx *cli.Context) []string {
 	return preloads
 }
 
+// ParseStateScheme resolves scheme identifier from CLI flag. If the provided
+// state scheme is not compatible with the one of persistent scheme, an error
+// will be returned.
+//
+//   - none: use the scheme consistent with persistent state, or fallback
+//     to hash-based scheme if state is empty.
+//   - hash: use hash-based scheme or error out if not compatible with
+//     persistent state scheme.
+//   - path: use path-based scheme or error out if not compatible with
+//     persistent state scheme.
+func ParseStateScheme(ctx *cli.Context, disk ethdb.Database) (string, error) {
+	// If state scheme is not specified, use the scheme consistent
+	// with persistent state, or fallback to hash mode if database
+	// is empty.
+	stored := rawdb.ReadStateScheme(disk)
+	if !ctx.IsSet(StateSchemeFlag.Name) {
+		if stored == "" {
+			// use default scheme for empty database, flip it when
+			// path mode is chosen as default
+			log.Info("State schema set to default", "scheme", "hash")
+			return rawdb.HashScheme, nil
+		}
+		log.Info("State scheme set to already existing", "scheme", stored)
+		return stored, nil // reuse scheme of persistent scheme
+	}
+	// If state scheme is specified, ensure it's compatible with
+	// persistent state.
+	scheme := ctx.String(StateSchemeFlag.Name)
+	if stored == "" || scheme == stored {
+		log.Info("State scheme set by user", "scheme", scheme)
+		return scheme, nil
+	}
+	return "", fmt.Errorf("incompatible state scheme, stored: %s, provided: %s", stored, scheme)
+}
+
 // MakeTrieDatabase constructs a trie database based on the configured scheme.
 func MakeTrieDatabase(ctx *cli.Context, disk ethdb.Database, preimage bool, readOnly bool) *trie.Database {
 	config := &trie.Config{
 		Preimages: preimage,
 	}
-	scheme, err := rawdb.ParseStateScheme(ctx.String(StateSchemeFlag.Name), disk)
+	scheme, err := ParseStateScheme(ctx, disk)
 	if err != nil {
 		Fatalf("%v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/core/genesis.go b/core/genesis.go
index 0f1e8baf43..baace3f991 100644
--- a/core/genesis.go
+++ b/core/genesis.go
@@ -120,8 +120,8 @@ func (ga *GenesisAlloc) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// hash computes the state root according to the genesis specification.
-func (ga *GenesisAlloc) hash() (common.Hash, error) {
+// deriveHash computes the state root according to the genesis specification.
+func (ga *GenesisAlloc) deriveHash() (common.Hash, error) {
 	// Create an ephemeral in-memory database for computing hash,
 	// all the derived states will be discarded to not pollute disk.
 	db := state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase())
@@ -142,9 +142,9 @@ func (ga *GenesisAlloc) hash() (common.Hash, error) {
 	return statedb.Commit(0, false)
 }
 
-// flush is very similar with hash, but the main difference is all the generated
-// states will be persisted into the given database. Also, the genesis state
-// specification will be flushed as well.
+// flush is very similar with deriveHash, but the main difference is
+// all the generated states will be persisted into the given database.
+// Also, the genesis state specification will be flushed as well.
 func (ga *GenesisAlloc) flush(db ethdb.Database, triedb *trie.Database, blockhash common.Hash) error {
 	statedb, err := state.New(types.EmptyRootHash, state.NewDatabaseWithNodeDB(db, triedb), nil)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -179,6 +179,39 @@ func (ga *GenesisAlloc) flush(db ethdb.Database, triedb *trie.Database, blockhas
 	return nil
 }
 
+// CommitGenesisState loads the stored genesis state with the given block
+// hash and commits it into the provided trie database.
+func CommitGenesisState(db ethdb.Database, triedb *trie.Database, blockhash common.Hash) error {
+	var alloc GenesisAlloc
+	blob := rawdb.ReadGenesisStateSpec(db, blockhash)
+	if len(blob) != 0 {
+		if err := alloc.UnmarshalJSON(blob); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	} else {
+		// Genesis allocation is missing and there are several possibilities:
+		// the node is legacy which doesn't persist the genesis allocation or
+		// the persisted allocation is just lost.
+		// - supported networks(mainnet, testnets), recover with defined allocations
+		// - private network, can't recover
+		var genesis *Genesis
+		switch blockhash {
+		case params.MainnetGenesisHash:
+			genesis = DefaultGenesisBlock()
+		case params.GoerliGenesisHash:
+			genesis = DefaultGoerliGenesisBlock()
+		case params.SepoliaGenesisHash:
+			genesis = DefaultSepoliaGenesisBlock()
+		}
+		if genesis != nil {
+			alloc = genesis.Alloc
+		} else {
+			return errors.New("not found")
+		}
+	}
+	return alloc.flush(db, triedb, blockhash)
+}
+
 // GenesisAccount is an account in the state of the genesis block.
 type GenesisAccount struct {
 	Code       []byte                      `json:"code,omitempty"`
@@ -411,7 +444,7 @@ func (g *Genesis) configOrDefault(ghash common.Hash) *params.ChainConfig {
 
 // ToBlock returns the genesis block according to genesis specification.
 func (g *Genesis) ToBlock() *types.Block {
-	root, err := g.Alloc.hash()
+	root, err := g.Alloc.deriveHash()
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
diff --git a/core/genesis_test.go b/core/genesis_test.go
index fac88ff373..6a0f2df085 100644
--- a/core/genesis_test.go
+++ b/core/genesis_test.go
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ func TestReadWriteGenesisAlloc(t *testing.T) {
 			{1}: {Balance: big.NewInt(1), Storage: map[common.Hash]common.Hash{{1}: {1}}},
 			{2}: {Balance: big.NewInt(2), Storage: map[common.Hash]common.Hash{{2}: {2}}},
 		}
-		hash, _ = alloc.hash()
+		hash, _ = alloc.deriveHash()
 	)
 	blob, _ := json.Marshal(alloc)
 	rawdb.WriteGenesisStateSpec(db, hash, blob)
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_trie.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_trie.go
index 78f1a70b1c..ea437b8114 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/accessors_trie.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_trie.go
@@ -305,38 +305,3 @@ func ReadStateScheme(db ethdb.Reader) string {
 	}
 	return HashScheme
 }
-
-// ParseStateScheme checks if the specified state scheme is compatible with
-// the stored state.
-//
-//   - If the provided scheme is none, use the scheme consistent with persistent
-//     state, or fallback to hash-based scheme if state is empty.
-//
-//   - If the provided scheme is hash, use hash-based scheme or error out if not
-//     compatible with persistent state scheme.
-//
-//   - If the provided scheme is path: use path-based scheme or error out if not
-//     compatible with persistent state scheme.
-func ParseStateScheme(provided string, disk ethdb.Database) (string, error) {
-	// If state scheme is not specified, use the scheme consistent
-	// with persistent state, or fallback to hash mode if database
-	// is empty.
-	stored := ReadStateScheme(disk)
-	if provided == "" {
-		if stored == "" {
-			// use default scheme for empty database, flip it when
-			// path mode is chosen as default
-			log.Info("State schema set to default", "scheme", "hash")
-			return HashScheme, nil
-		}
-		log.Info("State scheme set to already existing", "scheme", stored)
-		return stored, nil // reuse scheme of persistent scheme
-	}
-	// If state scheme is specified, ensure it's compatible with
-	// persistent state.
-	if stored == "" || provided == stored {
-		log.Info("State scheme set by user", "scheme", provided)
-		return provided, nil
-	}
-	return "", fmt.Errorf("incompatible state scheme, stored: %s, provided: %s", stored, provided)
-}
diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index c6787870ca..af03517792 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -133,12 +133,8 @@ func New(stack *node.Node, config *ethconfig.Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	scheme, err := rawdb.ParseStateScheme(config.StateScheme, chainDb)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
 	// Try to recover offline state pruning only in hash-based.
-	if scheme == rawdb.HashScheme {
+	if config.StateScheme == rawdb.HashScheme {
 		if err := pruner.RecoverPruning(stack.ResolvePath(""), chainDb); err != nil {
 			log.Error("Failed to recover state", "error", err)
 		}
@@ -198,7 +194,7 @@ func New(stack *node.Node, config *ethconfig.Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 			SnapshotLimit:       config.SnapshotCache,
 			Preimages:           config.Preimages,
 			StateHistory:        config.StateHistory,
-			StateScheme:         scheme,
+			StateScheme:         config.StateScheme,
 		}
 	)
 	// Override the chain config with provided settings.
diff --git a/eth/ethconfig/config.go b/eth/ethconfig/config.go
index bfb1df3fb1..342ff3da9e 100644
--- a/eth/ethconfig/config.go
+++ b/eth/ethconfig/config.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/clique"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/txpool/blobpool"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/txpool/legacypool"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/downloader"
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ var Defaults = Config{
 	TxLookupLimit:      2350000,
 	TransactionHistory: 2350000,
 	StateHistory:       params.FullImmutabilityThreshold,
+	StateScheme:        rawdb.HashScheme,
 	LightPeers:         100,
 	DatabaseCache:      512,
 	TrieCleanCache:     154,
@@ -103,11 +105,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	TxLookupLimit      uint64 `toml:",omitempty"` // The maximum number of blocks from head whose tx indices are reserved.
 	TransactionHistory uint64 `toml:",omitempty"` // The maximum number of blocks from head whose tx indices are reserved.
 	StateHistory       uint64 `toml:",omitempty"` // The maximum number of blocks from head whose state histories are reserved.
-
-	// State scheme represents the scheme used to store ethereum states and trie
-	// nodes on top. It can be 'hash', 'path', or none which means use the scheme
-	// consistent with persistent state.
-	StateScheme string `toml:",omitempty"`
+	StateScheme        string `toml:",omitempty"` // State scheme used to store ethereum state and merkle trie nodes on top
 
 	// RequiredBlocks is a set of block number -> hash mappings which must be in the
 	// canonical chain of all remote peers. Setting the option makes geth verify the