diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@
     globalVerifyHandle.reset();
     ECC_Stop();
     node.mempool.reset();
-    node.chainman = nullptr;
+    node.chainman.reset();
     node.scheduler.reset();
 
     try {
@@ -2403,8 +2403,8 @@
     node.mempool = std::make_unique<CTxMemPool>(check_ratio);
 
     assert(!node.chainman);
-    node.chainman = &g_chainman;
-    ChainstateManager &chainman = *Assert(node.chainman);
+    node.chainman = std::make_unique<ChainstateManager>();
+    ChainstateManager &chainman = *node.chainman;
 
     assert(!node.peerman);
     node.peerman =
diff --git a/src/node/context.h b/src/node/context.h
--- a/src/node/context.h
+++ b/src/node/context.h
@@ -37,8 +37,7 @@
     std::unique_ptr<CConnman> connman;
     std::unique_ptr<CTxMemPool> mempool;
     std::unique_ptr<PeerManager> peerman;
-    // Currently a raw pointer because the memory is not managed by this struct
-    ChainstateManager *chainman{nullptr};
+    std::unique_ptr<ChainstateManager> chainman;
     std::unique_ptr<BanMan> banman;
     // Currently a raw pointer because the memory is not managed by this struct
     ArgsManager *args{nullptr};
diff --git a/src/node/context.cpp b/src/node/context.cpp
--- a/src/node/context.cpp
+++ b/src/node/context.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <net_processing.h>
 #include <scheduler.h>
 #include <txmempool.h>
+#include <validation.h>
 
 NodeContext::NodeContext() {}
 NodeContext::~NodeContext() {}
diff --git a/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp b/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp
--- a/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp
@@ -106,11 +106,6 @@
     // Reset global state to avoid interfering with later tests.
     LogInstance().DisconnectTestLogger();
     AbortShutdown();
-    {
-        LOCK(cs_main);
-        UnloadBlockIndex(/* mempool */ nullptr, g_chainman);
-        g_chainman.Reset();
-    }
 }
 
 //! Entry point for BitcoinGUI tests.
diff --git a/src/rest.cpp b/src/rest.cpp
--- a/src/rest.cpp
+++ b/src/rest.cpp
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@
                           __FILE__, __LINE__, __func__, PACKAGE_BUGREPORT));
         return nullptr;
     }
-    return node_context->chainman;
+    return node_context->chainman.get();
 }
 
 static RetFormat ParseDataFormat(std::string &param,
diff --git a/src/test/util/setup_common.cpp b/src/test/util/setup_common.cpp
--- a/src/test/util/setup_common.cpp
+++ b/src/test/util/setup_common.cpp
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@
 
     m_node.mempool = std::make_unique<CTxMemPool>(1);
 
-    m_node.chainman = &::g_chainman;
+    m_node.chainman = std::make_unique<ChainstateManager>();
 
     constexpr int script_check_threads = 2;
     StartScriptCheckWorkerThreads(script_check_threads);
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@
     m_node.mempool.reset();
     m_node.scheduler.reset();
     m_node.chainman->Reset();
-    m_node.chainman = nullptr;
+    m_node.chainman.reset();
     pblocktree.reset();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/validation.h b/src/validation.h
--- a/src/validation.h
+++ b/src/validation.h
@@ -1141,10 +1141,6 @@
                                 CAutoFile &coins_file,
                                 const SnapshotMetadata &metadata);
 
-    // For access to m_active_chainstate.
-    friend CChainState &ChainstateActive();
-    friend CChain &ChainActive();
-
 public:
     std::thread m_load_block;
     //! A single BlockManager instance is shared across each constructed
@@ -1293,18 +1289,6 @@
     }
 };
 
-/**
- * DEPRECATED! Please use node.chainman instead. May only be used in
- * validation.cpp internally
- */
-extern ChainstateManager g_chainman GUARDED_BY(::cs_main);
-
-/** Please prefer the identical ChainstateManager::ActiveChainstate */
-CChainState &ChainstateActive();
-
-/** Please prefer the identical ChainstateManager::ActiveChain */
-CChain &ChainActive();
-
 /**
  * Global variable that points to the active block tree (protected by cs_main)
  */
diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -77,19 +77,6 @@
     "each level includes the checks of the previous levels",
 };
 
-ChainstateManager g_chainman;
-
-CChainState &ChainstateActive() {
-    LOCK(::cs_main);
-    assert(g_chainman.m_active_chainstate);
-    return *g_chainman.m_active_chainstate;
-}
-
-CChain &ChainActive() {
-    LOCK(::cs_main);
-    return ::ChainstateActive().m_chain;
-}
-
 /**
  * Global state
  *