French startup Ledger has commenced shipping its latest Ledger Stax devices, nearly 18 months after their initial announcement.
In collaboration with Tony Fadell, a key designer behind the iPod, Ledger has introduced an updated wallet featuring an E-Ink display, as reported by TechCrunch. E-Ink technology, commonly used in e-book readers like the Amazon Kindle and Rakuten Kobo, offers clear daylight visibility while consuming minimal power.
Pre-Orders and Future Availability
After fulfilling all pre-orders, Ledger plans to list the Ledger Stax on its website once sufficient stock is available.
Design Challenges and Delays
The extended delay in shipping the hardware wallet is attributed to the company potentially overpromising on the design. The curved E-Ink display in the Ledger Stax proved more challenging to produce at scale than anticipated.
Enhanced Features
The Ledger Stax boasts a larger display with a secure touch screen that directly interacts with the device’s secure element, enhancing user-friendliness compared to the arrow buttons on other Ledger devices. While the Nano S Plus works exclusively with a USB-C cable, both the Nano X and the Stax include a Bluetooth chip, allowing users to initiate cryptocurrency transactions from their phones and validate them on their hardware wallets without wires.
Target Market and Pricing
Aimed at high-end clientele, Ledger initially sold the Ledger Stax for €279 during the pre-order phase (approximately $300). The final retail price will be announced when the wallet becomes available again on Ledger’s website.
Security Features
In terms of security, all Ledger products store the private keys of users’ wallets, ensuring that the keys never leave the device. This means that even if a computer or phone is compromised, the assets remain safe. However, most cryptocurrency hacks are phishing attempts, and while Ledger cannot protect against social engineering and scams, they offer a subscription product for added peace of mind.
Production Partnership
The release of the Ledger Stax marks the beginning of a production partnership with Foxconn, a consumer electronics manufacturing company. Previously, Ledger assembled its devices in Vierzon, France. While the Nano S Plus and Nano X will continue to be manufactured there, the collaboration with Foxconn signifies an expansion in production capabilities.
Sales and Market Share
Ledger has sold over 6 million devices to date, securing approximately 20% of the world’s cryptocurrency assets. The company experienced a sharp increase in sales following the chaotic collapse of FTX in November 2022, as consumers rushed to self-custody solutions to safeguard their digital assets.
