diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 12b3d31f9d..b9092e91b0 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ bin/attestation_report.json
 bin/shards
 bin/*.der
 bin/enclave-shielding-pubkey.json
-bin/sidechain_db.bin
+bin/sidechain_db
 
 # client
 cli/my_keystore
diff --git a/core-primitives/settings/src/lib.rs b/core-primitives/settings/src/lib.rs
index 1ee8db502c..71073080dc 100644
--- a/core-primitives/settings/src/lib.rs
+++ b/core-primitives/settings/src/lib.rs
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ pub mod files {
 	pub static SHIELDING_KEY_FILE: &str = "enclave-shielding-pubkey.json";
 	pub static SIGNING_KEY_FILE: &str = "enclave-signing-pubkey.bin";
 	/// sidechain database path
-	pub static SIDECHAIN_STORAGE_PATH: &str = "sidechain_db.bin";
+	pub static SIDECHAIN_STORAGE_PATH: &str = "sidechain_db";
 	pub static SIDECHAIN_PURGE_INTERVAL: u64 = 7200; // purge sidechain every .. s
 	pub static SIDECHAIN_PURGE_LIMIT: u64 = 100; // keep the last.. sidechainblocks when purging
 
diff --git a/local-setup/py/worker.py b/local-setup/py/worker.py
index 67d68f1d75..fd0aa73767 100644
--- a/local-setup/py/worker.py
+++ b/local-setup/py/worker.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def check_shard_and_prompt_delete(self, shard=None):
             return False
 
     def purge(self):
-        """ Deletes the light_client_db.bin, the shards and the sidechain_db.bin
+        """ Deletes the light_client_db.bin, the shards and the sidechain_db
         """
         self.purge_last_slot_seal()
         self.purge_light_client_db()
@@ -113,9 +113,9 @@ def purge_shards_and_sidechain_db(self):
             print(f'Purging shards')
             shutil.rmtree(pathlib.Path(f'{self.cwd}/shards'))
 
-        if pathlib.Path(f'{self.cwd}/sidechain_db.bin').exists():
+        if pathlib.Path(f'{self.cwd}/sidechain_db').exists():
             print(f'purging sidechain_db')
-            shutil.rmtree(pathlib.Path(f'{self.cwd}/sidechain_db.bin'))
+            shutil.rmtree(pathlib.Path(f'{self.cwd}/sidechain_db'))
 
     def purge_light_client_db(self):
         print(f'purging light_client_db')