Our take
Ledger's July 2020 e-commerce data breach exposed 1M+ email addresses and ~272,000 records with full names, postal addresses and phone numbers, fueling phishing and physical-extortion campaigns (crypto funds themselves were never compromised). In 2023 the optional 'Ledger Recover' seed-backup subscription (splitting an encrypted seed among third-party custodians) drew heavy criticism over the fact that a firmware update could extract seed data, raising trust concerns despite being opt-in.
Pros & cons
Pros
- EAL6+ secure element — higher certification than the pricier Nano X
- Supports 5,500+ coins and tokens
- Affordable entry price
- Larger screen than the discontinued original Nano S
Cons (the real ones)
- No Bluetooth — must be tethered by USB
- Secure-element firmware is closed-source (a recurring criticism vs Trezor)
- Brand affected by the 2020 customer data breach and the 2023 Ledger Recover controversy
- No battery / no standalone mobile use
Specifications
| Maker | Ledger (Ledger SAS, Paris, France) |
| Price | ~$79 USD MSRP (frequently discounted to ~$59) |
| Assets supported | ~5,500 |
| Connection | USB-C (wired only) |
| Companion app | Ledger Live (desktop and mobile) |
Security
- CC EAL6+ certified secure element (ST33)
- PIN protection
- 24-word BIP39 recovery phrase
- closed-source secure-element firmware (BOLOS OS); apps partially open-source
Before you buy
Buy only from the manufacturer's own store or an authorised reseller, and never a device that arrives with a recovery phrase already filled in — that is a known scam. Expect phishing: since Ledger's 2020 customer-data leak, fake “security update” emails and even posted letters asking for your recovery phrase have been common. No genuine company will ever ask for it. In October 2026, devices sold by one authorised Ledger reseller were found to carry a hidden implant: see how to buy a hardware wallet safely. Our guide on securing your crypto covers the rest of the setup.
Get the Exchange Safety Checklist
Get the free exchange safety checklist (opens right away) and be first to know when our monthly fee update launches. We'll only email you about that; unsubscribe anytime.
We store only your email to tell you when our monthly fee update launches. See our privacy policy.
Ledger Nano S Plus: quick answers
How much does the Ledger Nano S Plus cost?
~$79 USD MSRP (frequently discounted to ~$59). Prices change with promotions, so check the official store before buying, and only buy from the manufacturer or an authorised reseller — never second-hand.
Is the Ledger Nano S Plus safe?
CC EAL6+ certified secure element (ST33); PIN protection. No Bluetooth — must be tethered by USB. A hardware wallet removes exchange counterparty risk, but you remain responsible for your PIN and backup. Not financial advice.
