Ledger Pulls the Plug on Nano S, Here’s Why You Might Need a New Wallet

Ledger has announced the official end of software updates for its original Nano S hardware wallet, citing technical limitations that hinder further upgrades. While the wallet, first released in 2016, will remain operational for basic functions, users will no longer receive updates or new features.

The decision marks a full transition away from a device once central to the company’s consumer hardware lineup. Charles Guillemet, Ledger’s Chief Technology Officer, explained the rationale behind the move in a series of posts on X.

According to Guillemet, the Nano S’s limited 320 KB memory has become a bottleneck, making it difficult to support modern applications or security improvements.

The available space is almost entirely consumed by essential components like LedgerOS and the Bitcoin and Ethereum apps, leaving insufficient room for additional features.

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

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