diff --git a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/misc.ts b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/misc.ts
index 3060fbaef..ed47b3acd 100644
--- a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/misc.ts
+++ b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/misc.ts
@@ -167,21 +167,8 @@ export function extractBaseUrl (url: string | undefined) {
 export async function fastestConnection (endpoints: DropdownOption[]): Promise<FastestConnectionType> {
   try {
     const urls = endpoints.map(({ value }) => ({ value: value as string }));
-    const { api, connections } = await fastestEndpoint(urls);
 
-    // @ts-ignore
-    // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unsafe-member-access
-    const selectedEndpoint = api.registry.knownTypes.provider.endpoint as string;
-    const connectionsToDisconnect = connections.filter(({ wsProvider }) => wsProvider.endpoint !== selectedEndpoint);
-
-    connectionsToDisconnect.forEach(({ wsProvider }) => {
-      wsProvider.disconnect().catch(console.error);
-    });
-
-    return {
-      api,
-      selectedEndpoint
-    };
+    return await fastestEndpoint(urls);
   } catch (error) {
     console.error('Unable to make an API connection!', error);
 
@@ -219,4 +206,4 @@ export const removeZeroBalanceRecords = (toBeSavedAssets: SavedAssets): SavedAss
   });
 
   return _toBeSavedAssets;
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};
diff --git a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getAssetOnAssetHub.js b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getAssetOnAssetHub.js
index 6c39b91d6..3c116324b 100644
--- a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getAssetOnAssetHub.js
+++ b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getAssetOnAssetHub.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
 import { FETCHING_ASSETS_FUNCTION_NAMES } from '../../constants';
-import { closeWebsockets, fastestEndpoint, getChainEndpoints, metadataFromApi, toGetNativeToken } from '../utils';
+import { fastestEndpoint, getChainEndpoints, metadataFromApi, toGetNativeToken } from '../utils';
 import { getAssets } from './getAssets.js';
 
 /**
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import { getAssets } from './getAssets.js';
  */
 export async function getAssetOnAssetHub (addresses, assetsToBeFetched, chainName, userAddedEndpoints, port) {
   const endpoints = getChainEndpoints(chainName, userAddedEndpoints);
-  const { api, connections } = await fastestEndpoint(endpoints);
+  const { api } = await fastestEndpoint(endpoints);
 
   const { metadata } = metadataFromApi(api);
 
@@ -42,5 +42,6 @@ export async function getAssetOnAssetHub (addresses, assetsToBeFetched, chainNam
 
   console.info(chainName, ': account assets fetched.');
   port.postMessage(JSON.stringify({ functionName: FETCHING_ASSETS_FUNCTION_NAMES.ASSET_HUB, results }));
-  closeWebsockets(connections);
+
+  api.disconnect().catch(console.error);
 }
diff --git a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getAssetOnMultiAssetChain.js b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getAssetOnMultiAssetChain.js
index 685a0a151..ec31780d8 100644
--- a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getAssetOnMultiAssetChain.js
+++ b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getAssetOnMultiAssetChain.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { getSubstrateAddress } from '../../address';
 import { FETCHING_ASSETS_FUNCTION_NAMES } from '../../constants';
 import { toTitleCase } from '../../string';
 // eslint-disable-next-line import/extensions
-import { balancifyAsset, closeWebsockets, fastestEndpoint, getChainEndpoints, metadataFromApi, toGetNativeToken } from '../utils';
+import { balancifyAsset, fastestEndpoint, getChainEndpoints, metadataFromApi, toGetNativeToken } from '../utils';
 
 /**
  *
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import { balancifyAsset, closeWebsockets, fastestEndpoint, getChainEndpoints, me
  */
 export async function getAssetOnMultiAssetChain (assetsToBeFetched, addresses, chainName, userAddedEndpoints, port) {
   const endpoints = getChainEndpoints(chainName, userAddedEndpoints);
-  const { api, connections } = await fastestEndpoint(endpoints);
+  const { api } = await fastestEndpoint(endpoints);
 
   const { metadata } = metadataFromApi(api);
 
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ export async function getAssetOnMultiAssetChain (assetsToBeFetched, addresses, c
       return;
     }
 
-    // @ts-ignore
     const [formatted, assetIdRaw] = entry[0].toHuman() ?? [];
 
     let assetId;
@@ -51,7 +50,6 @@ export async function getAssetOnMultiAssetChain (assetsToBeFetched, addresses, c
 
     const storageKey = entry[0].toString();
 
-    // @ts-ignore
     let maybeAssetInfo = assetsToBeFetched.find((_asset) => {
       const currencyId = _asset?.extras?.['currencyIdScale'].replace('0x', '');
 
@@ -79,7 +77,6 @@ export async function getAssetOnMultiAssetChain (assetsToBeFetched, addresses, c
     }
 
     if (maybeAssetInfo) {
-      // @ts-ignore
       const totalBalance = balance.free.add(balance.reserved);
 
       const asset = {
@@ -97,7 +94,6 @@ export async function getAssetOnMultiAssetChain (assetsToBeFetched, addresses, c
 
       const address = getSubstrateAddress(formatted);
 
-      // @ts-ignore
       results[address]?.push(asset) ?? (results[address] = [asset]);
     } else {
       console.info(`NOTE: There is an asset on ${chainName} for ${formatted} which is not whitelisted. assetInfo`, storageKey, balance?.toHuman());
@@ -106,5 +102,6 @@ export async function getAssetOnMultiAssetChain (assetsToBeFetched, addresses, c
 
   console.info(chainName, ': account assets fetched.');
   port.postMessage(JSON.stringify({ functionName: FETCHING_ASSETS_FUNCTION_NAMES.MULTI_ASSET, results }));
-  closeWebsockets(connections);
+
+  api.disconnect().catch(console.error);
 }
diff --git a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getAssetOnRelayChain.js b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getAssetOnRelayChain.js
index 2b70e8627..684e57a47 100644
--- a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getAssetOnRelayChain.js
+++ b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getAssetOnRelayChain.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 import { FETCHING_ASSETS_FUNCTION_NAMES, NATIVE_TOKEN_ASSET_ID, TEST_NETS } from '../../constants';
 import { getPriceIdByChainName } from '../../misc';
-import { balancify, closeWebsockets } from '../utils';
+import { balancify } from '../utils';
 import { getBalances } from './getBalances.js';
 
 /**
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ export async function getAssetOnRelayChain (addresses, chainName, userAddedEndpo
   const results = {};
 
   try {
-    const { api, balanceInfo, connectionsToBeClosed } = await getBalances(chainName, addresses, userAddedEndpoints, port) ?? {};
+    const { api, balanceInfo } = await getBalances(chainName, addresses, userAddedEndpoints, port) ?? {};
 
-    if (!api || !balanceInfo || !connectionsToBeClosed) {
+    if (!api || !balanceInfo) {
       return;
     }
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ export async function getAssetOnRelayChain (addresses, chainName, userAddedEndpo
       }];
     });
 
-    closeWebsockets(connectionsToBeClosed);
+    api.disconnect().catch(console.error);
   } catch (error) {
     console.error(`getAssetOnRelayChain: Error fetching balances for ${chainName}:`, error);
   } finally {
diff --git a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getBalances.js b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getBalances.js
index 04226fc3f..74d4a0fef 100644
--- a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getBalances.js
+++ b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getBalances.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import { getStakingBalances } from './getStakingBalances';
  */
 export async function getBalances (chainName, addresses, userAddedEndpoints, port) {
   const chainEndpoints = getChainEndpoints(chainName, userAddedEndpoints);
-  const { api, connections } = await fastestEndpoint(chainEndpoints);
+  const { api } = await fastestEndpoint(chainEndpoints);
 
   if (api.isConnected && api.derive.balances) {
     const { metadata } = metadataFromApi(api);
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ export async function getBalances (chainName, addresses, userAddedEndpoints, por
       };
     });
 
-    return { api, balanceInfo: await Promise.all(requests), connectionsToBeClosed: connections };
+    return { api, balanceInfo: await Promise.all(requests) };
   }
 
   return undefined;
diff --git a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getNFTs.js b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getNFTs.js
index 24c470866..5bed02361 100644
--- a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getNFTs.js
+++ b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getNFTs.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 import { SUPPORTED_NFT_CHAINS } from '../../../fullscreen/nft/utils/constants';
 import { getFormattedAddress } from '../../address';
-import { closeWebsockets, fastestEndpoint, getChainEndpoints } from '../utils';
+import { fastestEndpoint, getChainEndpoints } from '../utils';
 
 const NFT_FUNCTION_NAME = 'getNFTs';
 
@@ -191,9 +191,9 @@ async function getNFTs (addresses) {
     const formattedAddresses = addresses.map((address) => getFormattedAddress(address, undefined, prefix));
     const endpoints = getChainEndpoints(name, undefined);
 
-    const { api, connections } = await fastestEndpoint(endpoints);
+    const { api } = await fastestEndpoint(endpoints);
 
-    return ({ api, chainName, connections, formattedAddresses, originalAddresses: addresses });
+    return ({ api, chainName, formattedAddresses, originalAddresses: addresses });
   });
 
   const apis = await Promise.all(apiPromises);
@@ -224,7 +224,9 @@ async function getNFTs (addresses) {
     return itemsByAddress;
   } finally {
     // Ensure all websocket connections are closed
-    apis.forEach(({ connections }) => closeWebsockets(connections));
+    apis.forEach(({ api }) => {
+      api.disconnect().catch(console.error);
+    });
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getPool.js b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getPool.js
index 526c9fc6d..89bbcd50b 100644
--- a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getPool.js
+++ b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getPool.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { BN, BN_ZERO, bnMax, hexToString } from '@polkadot/util';
 
 import getChainName from '../../getChainName';
 import getPoolAccounts from '../../getPoolAccounts';
-import { closeWebsockets, fastestEndpoint, getChainEndpoints } from '../utils';
+import { fastestEndpoint, getChainEndpoints } from '../utils';
 
 /**
  * Get all information regarding a pool
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export async function getPool (genesisHash, stakerAddress, id, port) {
   const chainName = getChainName(genesisHash);
   const endpoints = getChainEndpoints(chainName ?? '');
 
-  const { api, connections } = await fastestEndpoint(endpoints);
+  const { api } = await fastestEndpoint(endpoints);
 
   console.log(`getPool is called for ${stakerAddress} on chain ${chainName}`);
   id && console.log('getPool is called to fetch the pool with poolId:', id);
@@ -133,5 +133,5 @@ export async function getPool (genesisHash, stakerAddress, id, port) {
 
   port.postMessage(JSON.stringify({ functionName: 'getPool', results: JSON.stringify(poolInfo) }));
 
-  closeWebsockets(connections);
+  api.disconnect().catch(console.error);
 }
diff --git a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getValidatorsInformation.js b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getValidatorsInformation.js
index ebaa4abe0..a777bebaf 100644
--- a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getValidatorsInformation.js
+++ b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/shared-helpers/getValidatorsInformation.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { hexToString } from '@polkadot/util';
 
 import { KUSAMA_GENESIS_HASH, POLKADOT_GENESIS_HASH } from '../../constants';
 import getChainName from '../../getChainName';
-import { closeWebsockets, fastestEndpoint, getChainEndpoints } from '../utils';
+import { fastestEndpoint, getChainEndpoints } from '../utils';
 
 const BATCH_SIZE = 50;
 
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ export default async function getValidatorsInformation (genesisHash, port) {
   const endpoints = getChainEndpoints(chainName);
 
   try {
-    const { api, connections } = await fastestEndpoint(endpoints);
+    const { api } = await fastestEndpoint(endpoints);
 
     console.log('getting validators information on ' + chainName);
 
@@ -84,14 +84,14 @@ export default async function getValidatorsInformation (genesisHash, port) {
 
     console.log('electedInfo, waitingInfo, currentEra fetched successfully');
 
-    // Close the initial connections to the relay chain
-    closeWebsockets(connections);
+    // Close the initial connection to the relay chain
+    api.disconnect().catch(console.error);
 
     // Start connect to the People chain endpoints in order to fetch identities
     console.log('Connecting to People chain endpoints...');
     const peopleChainName = getPeopleChainName(genesisHash);
     const peopleEndpoints = getChainEndpoints(peopleChainName);
-    const { api: peopleApi, connections: peopleConnections } = await fastestEndpoint(peopleEndpoints);
+    const { api: peopleApi } = await fastestEndpoint(peopleEndpoints);
 
     // Keep elected and waiting validators separate
     const electedValidatorsInfo = electedInfo.info;
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ export default async function getValidatorsInformation (genesisHash, port) {
     await processSubIdentities(peopleApi, waitingMayHaveSubId, waitingValidatorsInformation, waitingAccountSubInfo);
     await processParentIdentities(peopleApi, waitingAccountSubInfo, waitingValidatorsInformation);
 
-    closeWebsockets(peopleConnections);
+    peopleApi.disconnect().catch(console.error);
 
     const results = {
       eraIndex: Number(currentEra?.toString() || '0'),
diff --git a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/utils/closeWebsockets.js b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/utils/closeWebsockets.js
deleted file mode 100644
index ff9b6421c..000000000
--- a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/utils/closeWebsockets.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2019-2025 @polkadot/extension-polkagate authors & contributors
-// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
-
-/**
- * @typedef {Object} ConnectionInfo
- * @property {Promise<import('@polkadot/api-derive/types')>} connection - The connection promise
- * @property {string} connectionEndpoint - The endpoint URL
- * @property {import('@polkadot/api').WsProvider} wsProvider - The WebSocket provider
- */
-
-/**
- * Closes the open connections
- * @param {ConnectionInfo[]} connections
- */
-export function closeWebsockets (connections) {
-  Promise.allSettled(
-    connections.map(({ wsProvider }) => wsProvider.disconnect())
-  ).catch(console.error);
-}
diff --git a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/utils/fastestApi.js b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/utils/fastestApi.js
deleted file mode 100644
index dd2c2b386..000000000
--- a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/utils/fastestApi.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,21 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2019-2025 @polkadot/extension-polkagate authors & contributors
-// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
-
-import getChainName from '../../getChainName';
-import { fastestEndpoint } from './fastestEndpoint';
-import { getChainEndpoints } from './getChainEndpoints';
-
-/**
- * @param {string | undefined} genesisHash
- */
-export async function fastestApi (genesisHash) {
-  const chainName = getChainName(genesisHash);
-  const endpoints = getChainEndpoints(chainName ?? '');
-
-  const { api, connections } = await fastestEndpoint(endpoints);
-
-  return {
-    api,
-    connections
-  };
-}
diff --git a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/utils/fastestEndpoint.js b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/utils/fastestEndpoint.js
index 36f4d7a1f..78706a916 100644
--- a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/utils/fastestEndpoint.js
+++ b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/utils/fastestEndpoint.js
@@ -4,43 +4,57 @@
 import { ApiPromise, WsProvider } from '@polkadot/api';
 
 /**
- * @param {{ value: string; }[]} endpoints
+ * Connects to multiple endpoints and returns the fastest one.
+ * Automatically disconnects all other providers.
+ *
+ * @param {{ value: string }[]} endpoints
  */
 export async function fastestEndpoint (endpoints) {
-  let connection;
-
-  const connections = endpoints.map(({ value }) => {
-    // Check if e.value matches the pattern 'wss://<any_number>'
-    // ignore due to its rate limits
-    if (/^wss:\/\/\d+$/.test(value) || (value).includes('onfinality') || value.startsWith('light')) {
-      return undefined;
-    }
-
-    const wsProvider = new WsProvider(value);
-
-    connection = ApiPromise.create({ provider: wsProvider });
-
-    return {
-      connection,
-      connectionEndpoint: value,
-      wsProvider
-    };
-  }).filter((i) => !!i);
-
-  const api = await Promise.any(connections.map(({ connection }) => connection));
-
-  // Find the matching connection that created this API
-  // @ts-ignore
-  const notConnectedEndpoint = connections.filter(({ connectionEndpoint }) => connectionEndpoint !== api?._options?.provider?.endpoint);
-  // @ts-ignore
-  const connectedEndpoint = connections.find(({ connectionEndpoint }) => connectionEndpoint === api?._options?.provider?.endpoint);
-
-  notConnectedEndpoint.forEach(({ wsProvider }) => {
-    wsProvider.disconnect().catch(() => null);
-  });
-
-  return {
-    api,
-    connections: connectedEndpoint ? [connectedEndpoint] : []
-  };
+  // Filter invalid endpoints
+  const validEndpoints = endpoints
+    .map(({ value }) => value)
+    .filter(
+      (value) =>
+        !/^wss:\/\/\d+$/.test(value) &&
+        !value.includes('onfinality') &&
+        !value.startsWith('light')
+    );
+
+  if (!validEndpoints.length) {
+    throw new Error('No valid endpoints provided');
+  }
+
+  // Create all providers
+  const providers = validEndpoints.map((value) => new WsProvider(value));
+
+  // Wrap each ApiPromise creation in an object, so we keep the link between api and provider
+  const apiPromises = providers.map((provider) =>
+    ApiPromise.create({ provider })
+      .then((api) => ({ api, provider })) // attach provider reference
+      .catch((error) => {
+        provider.disconnect().catch(() => null);
+        throw error;
+      })
+  );
+
+  // Get the fastest connection
+  let api, provider;
+
+  try {
+    ({ api, provider } = await Promise.any(apiPromises));
+  } catch (e) {
+    // e is AggregateError if all fail
+    throw new Error('All endpoints failed to connect', { cause: e });
+  }
+
+  // Disconnect all other providers (non-blocking)
+  Promise.all(
+    providers.map((p) =>
+      p === provider
+        ? Promise.resolve()
+        : p.disconnect().catch(() => null)
+    )
+  ).catch(() => null);
+
+  return { api, selectedEndpoint: provider.endpoint };
 }
diff --git a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/utils/index.ts b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/utils/index.ts
index 12244c24f..00e254820 100644
--- a/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/utils/index.ts
+++ b/packages/extension-polkagate/src/util/workers/utils/index.ts
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
 export * from './balancify.js';
-export * from './closeWebsockets.js';
-export * from './fastestApi.js';
 export * from './fastestEndpoint.js';
 export * from './getChainEndpoints.js';
 export * from './getChainEndpointsFromGenesisHash.js';