Ledger hardware wallet
Hardware wallets (Nano, Flex, Stax) from French company Ledger SAS, used with the Ledger Wallet app.
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Ledger key facts
| Category | Hardware wallet |
|---|---|
| Chains | 100+ chains via Ledger Wallet |
| Platforms | Hardware, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Custody | Self-custody |
| Pricing | Ledger Flex: $249 |
| Company | Ledger SAS |
| Chains | 100+ chains via Ledger Wallet |
| US availability | Yes |
What is Ledger?
Ledger is a hardware wallet maker (Ledger SAS) whose lineup includes the Nano, Flex and Stax, managed through the Ledger Wallet app. In July 2020 its e-commerce and marketing database was breached, exposing customer contact details. In July 2023 it described Ledger Recover, a cloud backup of the Secret Recovery Phrase.
How Ledger works
A Ledger device generates and stores private keys in an EAL6+ certified Secure Element chip running Ledger OS.
The Ledger Wallet app on your phone or computer builds transactions, and the device signs them after you confirm on its screen; the keys never leave the chip. The Flex connects over USB, Bluetooth and NFC, has a 2.8-inch E Ink touchscreen and a battery rated for about 10 hours. Inside Ledger Wallet you can buy, swap and stake through 50+ third-party providers, per Ledger.
Ledger Recover is an optional paid backup service described in a July 25, 2023 post. When you subscribe, the Secure Element encrypts a copy of your key, splits it into three encrypted fragments, and sends one each to Coincover, Ledger and EscrowTech, which hold them in hardware security modules in three countries. To restore, you verify your identity online with two independent companies, and two of the three fragments are sent back to a Ledger device to rebuild the key.
How to start with Ledger
- Buy from the official Ledger shop; the Flex product page lists free shipping and dispatch usually within 24 hours.
- Download Ledger Wallet from ledger.com/start for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS or Android, then follow the setup to choose a PIN and write down the 24-word Secret Recovery Phrase.
- To move funds off an exchange, copy a receive address in the app and check that it matches on the device screen.
- Ledger says it will never ask for your 24 words; any email or site that does is phishing.
Ledger fees and limits
- You pay for the hardware once, with no required subscription: the Ledger Flex lists at $249.
Ledger Recover is a separate subscription that starts with a one-month free trial in the app, and device bundles with an annual Recover plan include two months free. Swaps, purchases and staking inside Ledger Wallet run through third-party providers, so you pay their fees or spread plus network gas. Check the quote in the app before you confirm.
Risks to know before using Ledger
- Ledger's own July 29, 2020 post says an unauthorized party reached part of its e-commerce and marketing database through an API key, and that the breach was further exploited on June 25, 2020.
- About 1 million email addresses were exposed, and for 9,500 customers also names, postal addresses, phone numbers or ordered products.
- Ledger states no payment data, passwords or crypto funds were affected, but leaked contact details raise the risk of targeted phishing.
- Ledger Recover also ties restoration to identity checks by outside companies, a trust model some self-custody users avoid.
Ledger alternatives
Other projects people compare with Ledger.
Open-source hardware wallets from Trezor Company s.r.o., part of SatoshiLabs Group, sold since 2013.
Air-gapped open-source hardware wallet that signs over QR codes and works with MetaMask and other wallets.
Hardware wallets (S1, X1, S1 Pro) plus a free self-custody mobile wallet app.
Card-shaped NFC cold wallet from Swiss company Tangem AG, used by tapping a phone.
Card-shaped cold storage wallet that signs transactions with a tap on an NFC phone.
Hardware wallet line with a fingerprint-based model and a companion mobile app.
Where Ledger ranks on DappAtlas
Listed next to Ledger
- NGRAVE Hardware wallet
Ledger pros and cons
- Ledger Wallet app covers 100+ chains
- Ledger Wallet app source is public on GitHub (MIT)
- Lineup runs from the Nano to the touchscreen Flex ($249) and Stax
- July 2020 breach exposed customer contact details
- Ledger Recover (2023) is a paid option that stores encrypted shards of the recovery phrase with outside companies
- Device firmware is not published on GitHub the way the app is
Ledger FAQ
What is Ledger?
Ledger is a hardware wallet maker (Ledger SAS) whose lineup includes the Nano, Flex and Stax, managed through the Ledger Wallet app. In July 2020 its e-commerce and marketing database was breached, exposing customer contact details. In July 2023 it described Ledger Recover, a cloud backup of the Secret Recovery Phrase.
Which chains does Ledger support?
100+ chains via Ledger Wallet.
How much does Ledger cost?
Ledger Flex: $249, according to Ledger’s own page (checked Sep 26, 2026).
Is Ledger available in the US?
Yes, according to Ledger’s own page (checked Sep 26, 2026).
Does Ledger hold my funds?
No. Ledger is self-custody: you keep your funds in your own wallet and sign each transaction.
Sources
How this page works
Sources: Ledger: official site, Ledger Shop: Ledger Flex, Ledger: Homepage. Data as of Sep 26, 2026.
Not affiliated with any project listed. Educational content, not financial advice.