Ledger Nano X review

The Ledger Nano X is the device most people mean when they say 'hardware wallet'. It stores your private keys on a certified CC EAL6+ secure element chip — the same class of tamper-resistant hardware used in passports and credit cards — so your keys never touch an internet-connected computer. Every transaction must be physically confirmed on the device's buttons, which neutralises remote malware even if your phone or PC is compromised.

Its headline feature over the cheaper Nano S Plus is Bluetooth plus a built-in battery, letting you manage crypto from the Ledger Live mobile app without a cable. Through Ledger Live you can buy, swap, and stake assets like Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and Polkadot, and the device supports 5,500+ coins and tokens — effectively every major asset and most long-tail ones via third-party wallet integrations.

The honest caveat: Ledger's firmware is not fully open-source, and the 2023 'Ledger Recover' announcement (an optional seed-backup service) drew criticism from purists who worried about the principle of a seed ever leaving the chip. The secure element itself has never been breached, and Recover is opt-in — but if fully auditable firmware is non-negotiable for you, Trezor is the open-source alternative. For everyone else, the Nano X is the default recommendation: proven, portable, and broadly supported.