Frequently Asked Questions
Your complete guide to understanding Ledger hardware wallets. Find answers to common questions about security, setup, and owning your crypto.
Keeping crypto on an exchange means you don't actually own it; the exchange does. You are trusting them to keep it safe and to honor your withdrawal requests. If the exchange gets hacked, goes bankrupt, or is subject to government seizure, your funds can be lost forever. A Ledger hardware wallet gives you true ownership by keeping your private keys offline and in your possession.
Not at all. Ledger has designed the process to be very intuitive. The Ledger Live app provides step-by-step instructions that guide you through initialization, PIN code creation, and backing up your 24-word recovery phrase. Most users are set up and ready to secure their assets in under 20 minutes.
Your crypto is not stored on the Ledger device itself; it is on the blockchain. The device only holds your private keys. As long as you have your 24-word recovery phrase safely backed up, you can buy a new Ledger wallet (or another compatible wallet) and use the phrase to restore full access to all your funds. Your PIN code also protects your device from being used by anyone who finds it.
Ledger supports over 5,500 coins and tokens via the Ledger Live app and approved third-party wallets. This includes all the major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and all ERC-20 tokens, Ripple (XRP), Cardano (ADA), Solana (SOL), and thousands more. You can also manage your NFTs securely on the Ethereum, Polygon, and other blockchains.
The device itself is designed to be virtually impenetrable. Your private keys are stored on a certified Secure Element chip that is isolated from your computer or phone's internet connection. Transactions are signed offline within this secure environment. The only real vulnerability is human error: if you expose your 24-word recovery phrase by storing it digitally or falling for a phishing scam, your funds could be compromised. Never share your recovery phrase with anyone.
The primary difference is mobility. The Ledger Nano X has Bluetooth and a battery, allowing you to connect to the Ledger Live mobile app on iOS and Android to manage your assets anywhere. The Ledger Nano S Plus does not have Bluetooth or a battery and must be connected to a desktop computer or an Android phone via a USB cable. Both offer the exact same level of top-tier security for your assets.
Your Ledger device signs transactions completely offline. However, to broadcast that signed transaction to the blockchain (i.e., to actually send your crypto), you need an internet-connected device running Ledger Live or a compatible wallet. The critical part–the signing with your private key–always happens in the secure, offline environment of your Ledger wallet.
At AssetShield, we are an authorized reseller dedicated to crypto security. We guarantee that every device is authentic, brand-new, and shipped directly from the manufacturer's supply chain, ensuring it has not been tampered with. We provide dedicated support and fast shipping to help you secure your assets as quickly as possible.