CTO Charles Guillemet explains why the hardware wallet can no longer support modern security features.
On May 30, Ledger officially announced the permanent end of software updates for its Nano S hardware wallet, after nine years of service. The decision was driven by memory limitations preventing the device from supporting modern applications and the latest security upgrades.
Charles Guillemet, Chief Technology Officer at Ledger, outlined the technical reasons behind the move in a post on X. The Nano S has 320 KB of memory, a capacity now insufficient for today’s crypto industry demands, Guillemet stated. As he explained, LedgerOS together with the Bitcoin, Ethereum, and exchange apps already occupy nearly all available space, “leaving very little room for anything else.”
According to the CTO, this hardware limitation makes it impossible to implement essential advanced features for the modern crypto ecosystem, such as multi-app simultaneous use, enhanced clear-signing systems, Ledger Sync transaction verification, and on-device swaps via Uniswap and other DeFi protocols. “These newer features are crucial for improving clarity, usability, and, most importantly, security in today’s complex crypto landscape,” Guillemet wrote.
The French company recommends that Ledger Nano S users upgrade to the Nano S Plus, launched in April 2022. This newer model offers more memory and supports all modern security features currently required by the crypto space, according to Ledger.
The announcement sparked mixed reactions within the crypto community on social media. Some users accused Ledger of practicing planned obsolescence to push new purchases, voicing concerns about potential security risks during the migration to new devices.
Despite the end of software support, Nano S users will still be able to use essential functions for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other supported cryptocurrencies. Basic operations like sending, receiving, and swapping will remain available, ensuring continued access to funds already stored on the device.
