A method is provided for a key-value (KV) store database management system (DBMS) to provide a KV store to an application. The method includes providing a low-level KV store and a top-level KV store each having its own distinct transaction. The low-level KV store includes key-value pairs. The top-level KV store includes information leading to the low-level KV store. The information in the top-level KV store includes a minimum key in the low-level KV store, a last committed transaction for the low-level KV store, and a pointer to a root node of the low-level KV store. The method further includes committing a current transaction for the low-level KV store by persisting changes during the current transaction for the low-level KV store to secondary memory, updating the information of the top-level KV store with the current transaction for the low-level KV store as the last committed transaction for the low-level KV store, and opening a new transaction for the low-level KV store.