Under pressure, Ledger unveils plan to turn its crypto hardware wallet into a smartphone
Reported by CoinDesk · AI-assisted summary by ChikoCorp AI News Desk
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Summary
Ledger announced the development of the Ledger Atom, a crypto hardware wallet combined with smartphone functionality, scheduled for release in mid-2027. The device will run Android apps like WhatsApp and Instagram and provide a protected mode for managing digital assets. It incorporates enhanced tamper-resistant features aimed at preventing supply-chain attacks, such as the recent CryptoBilis incident.
Why it matters
The source suggests that Ledger’s new device addresses recent security breaches that exposed users to theft via hardware tampering, aiming to better protect digital assets. The integration of smartphone functions with advanced security could influence how crypto wallets are designed and used, though the source does not explicitly detail broader market or policy implications.
Key context
The announcement follows a supply-chain attack involving Ledger’s Malaysian distributor CryptoBilis, where tampered wallets reportedly compromised users’ 24-word recovery phrases, leading to estimated losses of $93.2 million and a freeze of $10 million USDT by Tether. Ledger indicates no similar losses in Europe and plans to mitigate future risks with new safeguards, exclusive direct sales, and tamper-detection technology.
Key numbers and entities
Ledger is the hardware wallet maker developing the Atom device. Estimated losses from the CryptoBilis breach are up to $93.2 million affecting over 300 wallets. Tether froze $10 million in USDT connected to the theft. The Atom will be manufactured in Vietnam, with a planned release in mid-2027.
What remains unclear
The source does not specify the device’s price, detailed user adoption strategy, or how the protected mode technologically isolates crypto functions from normal smartphone operations. It also does not provide information on global availability beyond website sales or potential competition responses.