Ledger begins shipping its high-end hardware crypto wallet

Ledger, a French startup best known for its secure hardware wallets for cryptocurrencies, has started shipping new wallets almost 18 months after announcing the latest Ledger Stax devices.

The updated wallet features an E-Ink display and was designed in collaboration with Tony Fadell, one of the lead designers of the iPod. E-Ink technology is commonly used in e-book readers such as the Amazon Kindle and Rakuten Kobo because the displays look good in daylight and do not require much power.

Once all pre-orders have been fulfilled, the company will list Ledger Stax on its website as soon as more stock becomes available. The reason for the delays in the hardware portfolio is that the company may have overdone the design. Ledger Stax has a curved E-Ink display. It was found that large-scale production of curved E-Ink displays was more difficult than expected.

So what makes Ledger Stax different from Ledger’s other wallets, Nano S Plus and Nano X? Unlike these two devices, Ledger Stax has a larger display with a secure touchscreen that interacts directly with the secure element of the device. It’s said to be easier to use than the arrow buttons on other Ledger devices.

While the Nano S Plus only works with a USB-C cable, the Nano X and Stax also have a Bluetooth chip. This means you can initiate a cryptocurrency transaction from your phone and confirm it in your cryptocurrency wallet – without having to use a transfer.

With this new wallet, Ledger also targets high-end customers. The company sold Ledger Stax for €279 during pre-order (about $300 at today’s exchange rate). He wouldn’t confirm the final retail price of the wallet, so you’ll have to wait until it’s available again on his website.

Thanks to the curved display, customers can view some information on the spine of the device even when it is turned off. This can be especially useful for companies and individuals who have multiple hardware wallets and want to combine them. Ledger Stax also has built-in magnets for easy positioning and supports Qi wireless charging.

When it comes to security, all Ledger products rely on a secure component where your wallet’s private keys are safely stored. They never leave your cryptocurrency wallets, which means that even if your computer or phone is compromised, your assets will be safe. However, most crypto hacks are phishing attempts anyway – and Ledger can’t protect you from social engineering and fraud.

If you lose your device, you can recover your wallet using your secret recovery phrase. The company also offers a subscription product in case you are not comfortable with recovery returns.

Interestingly, Ledger Stax also marks the beginning of a manufacturing partnership with Foxconn, a consumer electronics company. Previously, Ledger assembled its devices in Vierzon, France, but the Nano S Plus and Nano X devices will continue to be manufactured in Vierzon.

Ledger said it has sold more than 6 million devices to date, and the company estimates it secures about one-fifth (20%) of the world’s crypto assets.