Ledger Wallet Support

How New Coin Integrations Are Added to Ledger Live

—

by

howtoledger
in

Adding new coin integrations to Ledger Live, the companion software for Ledger hardware wallets (Nano S Plus, Nano X, Flex, or Stax), is a structured process that blends Ledger’s internal development efforts with community and third-party contributions.

How New Coin Integrations Are Added to Ledger Live

While Ledger doesn’t publish an exhaustive public playbook, insights from the Ledger Developer Portal, GitHub activity, official announcements, and community interactions reveal how this works. 

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how new coins are integrated into Ledger Live, ensuring both functionality and security.

Please download the last update of Ledger Live Application:

1. Ledger Live for Windows 10/11

2. Ledger Live for MAC

3. Ledger Live for Android

Overview of the Process

New coin integrations typically follow these stages:

  1. Proposal Submission: A request is made to add the coin.
  2. Evaluation by Ledger: Technical and strategic feasibility is assessed.
  3. Development: The coin’s app and Ledger Live support are built.
  4. Testing and Review: Rigorous checks ensure stability and security.
  5. Release and Deployment: The integration goes live for users.

This process can be initiated by Ledger, blockchain project teams, or community developers, with Ledger retaining final control over what gets implemented.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Step 1: Proposal Submission

  • How It Starts: The journey begins with a formal request via the Ledger Live Integration Form on the Ledger Developer Portal (developers.ledger.com). This form is open to:
    • Blockchain Teams: Projects (e.g., Solana, Arbitrum) submit their coin for integration.
    • Community Developers: Individuals or groups propose support for new chains.
  • Required Details: Submitters provide:
    • Blockchain specifics: Consensus mechanism (e.g., Proof of Stake for SOL), address format (e.g., solana:address), and protocol type (standalone chain or token standard like ERC-20).
    • Desired features: Basic (send/receive) or advanced (staking, smart contracts).
    • Technical resources: Node endpoints, API documentation, or testnet access.
  • Example: Solana’s integration (pre-2023) started with a community proposal, specifying SPL token support and staking—later formalized by Ledger.

Step 2: Evaluation by Ledger

  • Ledger’s Assessment: Ledger’s team reviews the proposal based on:
    • Technical Feasibility: Does the blockchain align with Ledger’s architecture? EVM-compatible chains (e.g., Cronos, Fantom in 2022) are easier due to Ethereum’s base—standalone chains like Solana require more work.
    • Security Standards: Is the chain reputable and audited? Ledger avoids risky or unproven projects—e.g., no obscure meme coins.
    • User Demand: High community buzz (e.g., Reddit’s r/ledgerwallet, “Add ALGO staking,” 2024) or market cap (e.g., top-20 coins) boosts priority.
    • Business Case: Partnerships or strategic value—e.g., Arbitrum’s L2 integration (May 2023) tied to Ethereum’s scaling narrative.
  • Outcomes:
    • Full Approval: Full Ledger Live support (e.g., Coreum in September 2023 with staking).
    • Partial Approval: Basic support only (e.g., send/receive, no staking)—common for newer chains.
    • Rejection: If criteria aren’t met—Ledger’s discretion, no public rejection list.
  • Evidence: X posts (@Ledger, May 2023) announced Arbitrum, Optimism, and Energy Web ($EWT) integrations—likely vetted for demand and compatibility.

Step 3: Development

  • Kickoff: Ledger schedules a meeting with the proposer (if external) to finalize specs—e.g., derivation paths (BIP-44 for BTC-like coins), RPC endpoints, or staking protocols.
  • Two-Part Development:
    1. Ledger Device App:
      • A standalone app is coded (C or Rust) for the Ledger device’s Secure Element to handle key generation and transaction signing—e.g., the Solana app signs SPL token transfers.
      • Community developers can propose this via GitHub (github.com/LedgerHQ), but Ledger finalizes it.
    2. Ledger Live Integration:
      • Frontend (JavaScript/TypeScript) is added to the ledger-live monorepo (github.com/LedgerHQ/ledger-live)—e.g., UI in apps/ledger-live-desktop/src/screens displays balances.
      • Backend logic (e.g., libs/ledger-core) syncs with the blockchain—requires node access or API support.
  • Collaboration: Ledger may delegate UI work to the community (e.g., Solana’s initial app), but device apps are tightly controlled—e.g., $BTT integration (June 2023) involved BitTorrent’s team.
  • Timeline: 2–6 months—faster for tokens (e.g., ERC-20 SHIB in 2021) due to Ethereum’s base, slower for unique chains (e.g., Solana).

Step 4: Testing and Review

  • Testing Phase:
    • Internal: Ledger tests the device app and Ledger Live integration—e.g., ensuring $ASTR staking (June 2023) signs correctly.
    • Nightly Builds: Experimental versions (@nightly tag) let community testers try it—e.g., pnpm install @ledger-live/nightly—feedback shapes fixes (per GitHub).
  • Security Review: Ledger’s team audits for:
    • Signing integrity: No transaction malleability (e.g., 2018 firmware fix).
    • UI safety: No spoofing risks—post-2023 Connect Kit hack tightened this.
  • Example: Reddit (r/ledgerwallet, 2024) noted nightly fixes for Polygon sync—community logs (Settings > Help > Export Logs) aided testing.

Step 5: Release and Deployment

  • App Release: The coin’s device app launches via My Ledger in Ledger Live Desktop—users install it (e.g., Nano X adds “Arbitrum” app).
  • Ledger Live Update: A software update (e.g., 2.81.0) enables native support—mobile users get it via App Store/Play Store.
  • Announcement: Ledger posts on ledger.com/blog, X (@Ledger), or YouTube—e.g., “Welcome Coreum ($COREUM)” (September 2023).
  • Sync: Mobile/desktop sync via Ledger Sync—new accounts appear seamlessly (e.g., “Arbitrum 1” post-May 2023).

Community Role

  • Proposals: Users suggest coins on Reddit (e.g., “Add AVAX staking,” 2024) or X—Ledger tracks demand, influencing approvals.
  • Development: Open-source devs fork ledger-live, submit PRs—e.g., UI tweaks for $FTM (2022)—though Ledger finalizes device apps.
  • Feedback: Bug reports (GitHub Issues, X) refine integrations—e.g., Solana staking bugs fixed after community logs (2024).

Examples of Recent Integrations

  • Coreum ($COREUM): September 2023—full support with staking, proposed by the Coreum team (Cryptonomist).
  • Arbitrum ($ARB), Optimism ($OP): May 2023—L2 support, fast-tracked for Ethereum compatibility (Ledger Blog).
  • BitTorrent ($BTT), Astar ($ASTR): June 2023—community buzz on X sped these up (Coinpedia).

Security Best Practices

  • Official Updates: Install apps/updates via My Ledger—avoid third-party sources (see “Avoiding Phishing Scams”).
  • Never Share Seed: Your 24-word phrase stays on your Ledger—integrations don’t need it (see “Why Never Share Your Seed”).
  • Verify Transactions: Confirm on-device—new coins don’t bypass this (see “Verifying Transactions”).
  • Test Small: Send 0.001 BTC post-update—ensures new integrations work (see “User Tips and Tricks”).

Conclusion

New coin integrations in Ledger Live start with a proposal via the Integration Form, get vetted by Ledger for feasibility and demand, then enter a development cycle—split between device apps and Ledger Live UI—culminating in a secure release. Community input (e.g., Reddit, GitHub) sparks ideas, but Ledger’s team ensures quality. Want a coin added? Submit that form at developers.ledger.com—your suggestion could hit My Ledger next!