Ledger has just launched a new hardware wallet for your NFTs

by James · December 6, 2022

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The Alpha:

Digital asset security firm Ledger announced the release of a new device called Ledger Stax, according to a press release shared with nft now.
For the release, Ledger teamed up with Tony Fadell, the designer of the iPod. The device features a curved E Ink display that displays the user’s chosen artwork even when the device is turned off.
The company plans to release Ledger Stax in Q1 2023, although it is available for pre-order now on Ledger.com. Ledger will also make it available from retailers such as BestBuy in the US in the coming months.
Ledger Stax uses a USB-C connection to connect to laptops and Bluetooth to connect to the Ledger Live Mobile app on smartphones. Ledger Connect, the company’s upcoming crypto wallet extension, will also enable connection to Web3 apps. Ledger Stax also supports Qi wireless charging.

Why it matters

Ledger is releasing its new wallet at a poignant time. In the wake of the FTX crypto scandal, Web3 enthusiasts and skeptics alike are looking for ways to increase security.

“With the Ledger Nano series, we created the most successful digital asset security hardware of all time – with more than 5 million sold and no one ever hacked,” said Pascal Gauthier, CEO and Chairman of Ledger in the press release shared with nft now. “Digital assets are increasingly about identity and digital ownership, not just crypto like Bitcoin. The time is now for a device for more mainstream users. At the same time, we must not compromise on security.”

The interface of the new wallet is far more ergonomically friendly than previous Ledger wallet iterations, allowing users to manage their NFT collection and more than 500 coins via a touch interface.

Each Ledger Stax comes with an Infinity Pass, which gives users a free NFT that comes with future utility. Additionally, a Ledger Stax NFT is available to craft on the Ledger Market to unlock access to exclusive NFT artwork from the company’s network of hand-picked artists. Ledger Market Genesis Pass holders retain special mint priority for this artwork.

“Digging into Ledger’s proven security technology and trying all the ‘best’ hardware wallets out there convinced me to build a next-generation device with Pascal, Ian and the amazing Ledger team,” said Tony Fadell, designer of Ledger Stax and principal at Build Kollektiv, in the press release. “We need a user-friendly…no! A ‘user-friendly’ tool to bring digital asset security to the rest of us, not just the geeks.”

Multiple Ledger Stax units in hand. Source: Ledger

Ledger Stax Specifications

Dimensions: 85 mm × 54 mm × 6 mm (credit card length and width)
Security: Ledger EAL 5+ certified secure element
Screen type: E-ink (up to 16 grays), customizable always-on lock screen, capacitive touch
Screen resolution: 672 × 400 pixels
Weight: 45g
Connection: USB C, Bluetooth 5.2
Magnet array for easy stacking
Qi wireless charging

The back of the Ledger Stax device(s). Source: Ledger

What will be next

This is one of the first efforts by a leading hardware wallet provider to “Apple-fy” digital asset security. Given the success of companies like Apple that have put a premium on user interfaces over the years, the move could start a trend that will no doubt be a big help in getting people to Web3.

Ledger has already established itself as one of the leading hardware wallet Web3 devices, and it clearly aims to dominate the market, which is estimated to reach $1.72 billion in size by 2030. Security may end up being the thin end of the wedge when it comes to bringing more people on board Web3, as skeptics repeatedly point to the lack of protection against fraud and crypto volatility as the primary concern in the space.

Appealing to a wider, non-Web3 native audience will be critical to the development and spread of crypto and NFTs. Many recognize that this will not be achieved until the convoluted technical barrier of wallets, passwords, seed sets and exchanges either dissolves or becomes frictionless. And while the Web3 blockchain market itself is expected to reach $33.53 billion by 2030, its growth will be severely hampered if industry drivers cannot successfully democratize the technology involved and flatten the space’s barriers to access.