- Ledger’s new Stax wallet finally shipped to pre-order customers.
- Ledger CTO Charles Guillemet revealed overcoming technical challenges in producing the device.
- The Stax wallet is a departure from Ledger’s existing product lineup.
Cryptocurrency hardware wallets are considered the safest way to hold digital assets, as they store private keys in a device not connected to the internet. This setup makes it harder for hackers to access the wallet through malware, viruses, or other attack methods.
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Hardware wallet firm Ledger first announced its Stax wallet nearly 18 months ago, but has only just shipped an initial batch of devices to pre-order customers. Taking to X, Ledger CTO Charles Guillemet explained that the delay was due to overcoming the technical hurdles of mass-producing the device at scale.
Ledger Stax Shakes Up Hardware Wallet Market
Explaining the delay in shipping, Guillemet revealed that manufacturing the new wallet required Ledger to overcome technical hurdles. Namely, incorporating the company’s security process within a mass-produced touchscreen display. The Stax utilizes an E-Ink screen akin to e-reader devices like the Amazon Kindle, providing crisp text visibility even in daylight conditions but with low power consumption.
The Stax’s standout feature is its large, customizable curved touchscreen that can display user-selected images or digital art as the lock screen backdrop. The device also boasts a display along its spine, making it easier to distinguish between multiple Stax wallets when stacked together using built-in magnets. Adding further convenience, the Stax supports wireless Qi charging.
Excitingly for developers, Guillemet also revealed that Stax will be an open platform for apps. He encouraged coders and creators to explore Ledger’s developer portal and begin building experiences for the hardware wallet’s unique form factor. Guillemet stated that the Stax will be available for public release around the summer of 2024.
Although Ledger has yet to reveal the cost of the Stax, the company is clearly targeting the higher end of the hardware wallet market.
Tapping High-End Customers
The Ledger Stax represents a departure for the company as it targets the high-end hardware crypto wallet market. Pre-order customers paid €279 (around $303) to be among the first to acquire the device, but Ledger has not disclosed pricing details for the device’s general release.
In contrast, Ledger’s current lineup consists of the Nano S Plus and Nano X wallets, which sport a more rudimentary USB thumbstick design with basic dot-matrix displays. Despite being less feature-rich, these wallets remain among the most accessible and affordable options. The entry-level Nano S Plus retails for around $79, while the step-up Nano X sells for $149.
On the Flipside
- The Ledger Recovery feature, which stores recovery phrases to solve lost access, was panned by purists who objected to the potential security threat posed.
- Ledger has had two major data leaks, most recently in December 2023 when a former employee was hacked via a phishing attack.
- Ledger has sold over 6.5 million devices and is estimated to hold a 20% share of the hardware wallet market.
Why This Matters
As mainstream adoption grows, seamless hardware wallets may catalyze broader engagement by offering a more phone-like experience, particularly as rival touchscreen offerings lack phone-like build quality and user experience.
Learn more about Ledger and its hardware wallet offerings.
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