Ledger Commences Shipment of New Ledger Stax Hardware Wallet After 18-Month Wait
French startup Ledger has finally started sending out its latest Ledger Stax devices, almost a year and a half after they were first announced. In collaboration with Tony Fadell, one of the key designers behind the iPod, Ledger has introduced an upgraded wallet featuring an E-Ink display, as reported by TechCrunch.
E-Ink technology, commonly used in e-book readers such as the Amazon Kindle and Rakuten Kobo, provides a clear display in daylight while consuming minimal power.
After fulfilling all pre-orders, Ledger plans to make the Ledger Stax available on its website once sufficient stock is available.
Design Challenges Caused Delays
The extended delay in shipping the hardware wallet can be attributed to the company potentially overpromising on the design front. The curved E-Ink display integrated into the Ledger Stax proved more difficult to produce on a large scale than anticipated.
Unlike its counterparts, the Ledger Stax boasts a larger display with a secure touch screen that directly interacts with the device’s secure element. This feature offers improved user-friendliness compared to the arrow buttons found on other Ledger devices.
While the Nano S Plus exclusively works with a USB-C cable, both the Nano X and the Stax include a Bluetooth chip. Consequently, users can initiate cryptocurrency transactions from their phones and validate them on their hardware wallets without the need for wires.
Targeting high-end customers, Ledger initially sold the Ledger Stax for €279 during the pre-order phase (approximately $300 at the current exchange rate). The final retail price has not been disclosed and will be announced when the wallet becomes available again on the website.
Ledger Stax Hardware Wallet Security
In terms of security, all Ledger products store users’ wallet private keys. With Ledger, the private keys never leave the device, ensuring that even if a computer or phone is compromised, the assets remain safe.
However, it is important to note that most cryptocurrency hacks are phishing attempts, and while Ledger cannot protect against social engineering and scams, they do offer a subscription product for those seeking additional peace of mind.
Notably, 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, and while the Nano S Plus and Nano X will continue to be manufactured there, the collaboration with Foxconn represents an expansion in production capabilities.
To date, Ledger has already sold over 6 million devices, and the company estimates that it secures approximately 20% of the world’s cryptocurrency assets.
It is worth mentioning that Ledger experienced a significant increase in sales following the chaotic collapse of FTX in November 2022 as consumers rushed to self-custody solutions to protect their digital assets.
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