Ledger Nano S Gets the Axe – Time to Upgrade Your Crypto Wallet in 2025
Ledger just dropped a bombshell: the Nano S is officially obsolete. If you're still clinging to this aging hardware wallet, your crypto might be at risk.
Here's what you need to know—and why procrastinating could cost you.
The End of an Era
After years of service, Ledger's cutting support for the Nano S. No more security updates. No new coin integrations. Just a slow march toward irrelevance in the fast-moving crypto world.
Your Move, Hodler
Upgrading isn't optional anymore. Modern wallets handle advanced protocols and DeFi integrations that the Nano S can't touch. Stick with legacy hardware? Enjoy watching your portfolio grow—on someone else's terms.
The Silver Lining
Newer models like the Nano X offer Bluetooth connectivity, expanded storage, and—ironically—better 'security' than the device that started the hardware wallet revolution. Funny how progress works when companies need to sell new products.
Bottom line: In crypto, standing still is the fastest way to fall behind. And in traditional finance terms—this is the equivalent of your bank charging you a 'legacy account fee' for the privilege of using outdated tech.
Modern Features Outpace Legacy Hardware
Ledger had officially retired the Nano S in 2022 but continued to support it with minimal updates for nearly two more years. Guillemet noted that recent advancements in crypto wallet software, such as multi-application runtimes, enhanced clear-signing, on-device swapping, and the Ledger Sync transaction check require far more memory than the Nano S can provide.
While Ledger will stop rolling out updates, Nano S owners will still be able to perform basic operations like sending, receiving, and swapping cryptocurrencies using core apps such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. More importantly, private keys remain fully portable.
Ledger emphasized that users can restore their funds on newer devices by importing their 24-word recovery phrase, a seed phrase compatible with all BIP-39-compliant wallets.
In light of this transition, the company is encouraging users to upgrade to the Nano S Plus, released in 2022, which includes expanded memory and compatibility with the latest app features.
The Plus model offers increased support for multi-app use and accommodates evolving security standards that are now considered best practices in the crypto space.
Mixed Reactions from the Crypto Community
The announcement has generated mixed feedback across X. Some users accused Ledger of planned obsolescence, arguing that encouraging upgrades puts pressure on existing users to make new purchases.
Others raised concerns about the risks involved in transferring seed phrases to new devices, fearing potential exposure to phishing or cyberattacks during the migration process.
Not all industry voices shared this skepticism. Marc Zeller, a contributor to Aave, commented that phasing out support for aging hardware is common across the technology sector. However, he acknowledged that Ledger could have ended sales of the Nano S earlier to prevent confusion and set clearer expectations for users.
I’m not a fan of ledger as a company but they are decommissioning the Nano S the old device from a decade ago, not the Nano S plus they sell now.
Chips have a natural lifespan and it’s standard to stop software maintenance of outdated hardware after more than half a decade. https://t.co/KaJxYoPRyI
— Marc “Billy” Zeller
(@lemiscate) June 26, 2025
Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView
