Ledger promo code: $20 in crypto on your hardware wallet

A Ledger hardware wallet is a physical device designed to store cryptocurrency private keys completely offline (cold storage). The private key is generated and stored exclusively in the device's secure chip and never leaves it. To sign a transaction (send crypto), you must physically press the device's buttons: someone with access to your computer or phone can't transact without the device in hand. The 24-word recovery phrase (seed phrase) is the backup of your private keys. If the device is lost or stolen, it lets you restore the entire wallet on a new Ledger. It's imperative to write this phrase on paper and keep it safe, never entering it on a computer or photographing it.

The Ledger range has four distinct models. The Nano S Plus (€79) is the entry model: OLED screen, 2 physical buttons, USB-C only, compatible with 5,500+ coins. It's ideal for beginners and users storing a simple portfolio. The Nano X (€149) adds Bluetooth (iOS and Android compatible) and a rechargeable battery, allowing cable-free phone use. It can manage up to 100 apps at once versus 3 for the Nano S Plus. The Ledger Flex ($249) is the first model with a 2.84-inch colour E Ink touchscreen and IP11 certification (water- and dust-resistant). The Ledger Stax ($399) is the premium model with a 3.7-inch curved E Ink screen and Qi wireless charging. The latter two models were designed with the help of iconic designer Tony Fadell (creator of the iPod).

Security is Ledger's core business. Ledger devices integrate a Secure Element chip certified EAL5+ to EAL6+ depending on the model. This chip is identical to those used in biometric passports and bank cards, designed to resist physical attacks (probe, cold, heat, laser). The BOLOS architecture (Blockchain Open Ledger Operating System) is Ledger's proprietary operating system, isolating each blockchain app in a separate secure environment. Ledger has a Donjon team (security research) tasked with testing its own devices and finding vulnerabilities before malicious actors. Firmwares are regularly updated via Ledger Live to fix any vulnerabilities and add features. No Ledger device has ever been hacked remotely since the company's creation.

Ledger Live is the software interface to manage all your crypto-assets from one place. Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, it lets you view balances in real time, send and receive crypto, and buy, sell and swap crypto directly via integrated partners (Coinify, MoonPay, Changelly, 1inch). Ledger Live also includes DeFi features (staking, earn) to put your crypto-assets to work. The app manages over 5,500 cryptocurrencies and tokens, with the major blockchains (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, BNB Chain, Avalanche, etc.) and their associated ERC-20 tokens. Device firmware updates are done directly via Ledger Live.

Ledger devices are compatible with over 5,500 cryptocurrencies and tokens. The main natively supported blockchains are Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and all ERC-20 tokens, Solana (SOL), XRP, Cardano (ADA), Polkadot (DOT), Avalanche (AVAX), BNB Chain (BNB), Polygon (MATIC), Cosmos (ATOM), Litecoin (LTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Dogecoin (DOGE) and hundreds of others. For ERC-20 tokens (over 10,000 on the Ethereum blockchain), Ledger Live automatically manages compatibility via the Ethereum app. Third-party apps (MyEtherWallet, MetaMask) can be connected to a Ledger to access other DeFi and NFT protocols not natively managed in Ledger Live.

It's imperative to buy a Ledger only from the official Ledger.com site or officially listed authorised resellers. Ledger devices bought second-hand or on unofficial platforms (third-party marketplace sellers, eBay, Telegram groups) present a major risk: a device pre-configured with a seed phrase known to the sender would let them steal all your crypto as soon as you transfer it. Fundamental reminder: a new Ledger ALWAYS generates its own seed phrase on first setup. If a device asks you to enter a seed phrase provided by the seller or arrives already configured, never use it. The hardware-wallet counterfeit ecosystem is documented, notably via fake sites imitating Ledger.com. An official Ledger referral code is available on this page to get crypto rewards when buying from the official site.

Ledger and Trezor (a Czech brand, founded in 2013) are the two world references in hardware wallets. The main differences: Ledger uses a certified Secure Element chip (like bank cards), Trezor uses a standard microcontroller that is open-source but considered less resistant to physical attacks by some security experts. Trezor publishes all its code as open-source; Ledger publishes the apps' code but not the secure chip's firmware. Ledger offers Bluetooth on the Nano X (absent on Trezor Model T and Safe 5). Both brands have had incidents: Ledger suffered a customer-data leak in 2020 (emails and addresses) and the Ledger Recover controversy in 2023; Trezor had pin vulnerabilities in 2023. For the vast majority of users, both brands offer largely sufficient security.

In May 2023, Ledger launched Ledger Recover, an optional service ($3.99/month) to back up your seed phrase in encrypted, fragmented form with three custodians. This announcement caused major controversy in the crypto community, as it implied Ledger firmware could theoretically extract the seed phrase from the secure chip — something Ledger had always presented as impossible. The controversy highlighted that the separation between chip and firmware isn't inherently hermetic at the hardware level, but rests on trust in Ledger's firmware. Ledger clarified that the service is strictly optional and that Recover features require identity verification (KYC). Trust in Ledger remains very high in the community despite this episode, but it's important to be aware of it before buying.

Beyond the general public, Ledger offers professional solutions via Ledger Enterprise. This solution lets companies, investment funds, exchanges and financial institutions manage their crypto-assets with advanced governance: multi-signature (multisig), approval workflows, audit logs, HSM integration. Ledger Vault (now Ledger Enterprise) has been used by banks, funds and exchanges to secure billions of dollars of crypto-assets. MPC (Multi-Party Computation) technology is integrated for distributed signature schemes with no single point of failure. These institutional solutions helped anchor Ledger's reputation as a security reference beyond the consumer market.

Ledger has a solid reputation in the global crypto community despite some controversies. The unanimously recognised positives: the hardware and software robustness of the devices, compatibility with the largest number of cryptocurrencies on the market, the mature and functional Ledger Live interface, quality technical support and long-term device reliability (original Nano S devices from 2016 still work perfectly). The watch-outs: the 2020 customer-data leak (personal data exposed, several customers victims of phishing and scams afterwards) and the 2023 Ledger Recover controversy. On a purely hardware and cryptographic-security level, no asset has ever been compromised via a flaw in the Ledger device itself. A Ledger referral code lets you get crypto rewards when buying models from the official site. For a mobile-first self-custody wallet, also compare Zengo.