The right cryptocurrency wallet for your Bitcoin
Looking for a Bitcoin Wallet to buy and store your Bitcoin? Join 6+ million customers who trust Ledger hardware wallets to securely store their crypto and use them on the day-to-day basis.
- Mobile & Desktop App
- Secured by Hardware Wallet
Secure your Bitcoin
Trusted by over 6 million customers
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How to secure your Bitcoin ?
Whether you’re looking to keep your crypto safe for long-term or manage them on a daily basis, Ledger has the right product for you.
Ledger hardware wallet
Ledger hardware wallet stores your private keys and signs transactions offline, making them resistant to malicious attacks and threats. Pair the Ledger crypto wallet with Ledger Live App to manage your Bitcoin on the go.
Ledger Live App
Ledger Live App is a gateway to manage your assets, checking your real-time balance, tracking transaction histories, and more.
How to get a Bitcoin wallet?
1
Get a Ledger Nano
Select and purchase a Ledger hardware wallet of your choice.
- Beginner in the crypto world? Get started with Ledger Nano S Plus.
- Prefer a Bluetooth connection? Try with Ledger Nano X.
2
Download Ledger Live
Download and install the Ledger Live app in a couple of clicks on desktop and mobile.
Coupled with a Ledger, it makes the most secured wallet for your Bitcoin.
Download the app
3
Start your Bitcoin journey securely
Add a Bitcoin account with a couple of clicks. Choose among different providers and easily manage your Bitcoin.
And not only Bitcoin. With Ledger Live, you can manage thousands of crypto and a large variety of NFTs.
Buy, Manage, and Swap Bitcoin at your fingertips
Manage your Bitcoin
With Ledger Live coupled with a Ledger, you can:
- Securely execute transactions by physically validating them with your Ledger Hardware Wallet
- Manage your Bitcoin as well as thousands of other crypto assets
- Track your portfolio
*Buy, send/receive, swap, stake, and other crypto transaction services are provided by third-parties provider, which availability may vary based on jurisdiction/territory.
Buy Bitcoin
You can easily buy Bitcoin with a credit/debit card or bank transfer. Choose from a range of service providers (Paypal, Ramp, MoonPay, Sardine…) and select the option that works best for you.
Your Bitcoin will land safely in your Ledger Bitcoin Wallet.
Swap Bitcoin
Swapping allows you to explore different crypto assets, protect your Bitcoin from volatility, and diversify your portfolio.
You can easily swap Bitcoin through Ledger Live without using fiat currencies.
The best Bitcoin hardware wallet
Ledger Nano S Plus
4.5/5 - 1 213 Reviews
The perfect crypto wallet to start securely managing your Bitcoin.
- Desktop
- USB-C
- Crypto & NFT
Ledger Nano X
4.5/5 - 11 108 Reviews
Secure and manage your crypto on-the-go with our Bluetooth®-enabled Bitcoin hardware wallet.
- Desktop & Mobile
- Bluetooth
- USB-C
- Crypto & NFT
Ledger Stax
Coming soon
Our most advanced and customizable Bitcoin wallet yet, enjoy a curved E Ink touchscreen crypto-experience unlike ever before.
- Desktop & Mobile
- Bluetooth
- USB-C
- Larger screen
- Crypto & NFT
Choice of 6,000,000+ customers
Bertil A.
5/5
In order to secure cryptocurrencies, Ledger is the perfect tool.
Kevin L.
5/5
Simply a very elegant peace of hardware, with a gorgeous UI in the app.
James P.
5/5
ALL is good, all legal resources bought was as specified and compliant, party on.
What is Bitcoin (BTC)?
Bitcoin is the first successful form of digital money based on peer-to-peer technology that facilitates decentralized transactions whereby. No central bank or centralized authority is involved in the transaction and production of the Bitcoin currency. The Bitcoin network records transactions on a distributed ledger (blockchain) comprising multiple nodes (computers) globally.
Bitcoin was created by an anonymous individual/group under the name, Satoshi Nakamoto. Satoshi Nakamoto, a pseudonymous cypherpunk, published the Bitcoin white paper on October 31, 2008. The source code is available publicly as an open-source project, anybody can look at it and be part of the developmental process.
Following are some of Bitcoin’s important characteristics:
– Scarce: Bitcoin is designed to have a finite supply of 21 million BTC ever created, thus making it an anti-inflationary financial asset.
– Fungible: Bitcoin is a fungible asset such that every coin is identical and equivalent to another.
– Divisible: Bitcoin’s divisibility follows from its fungibility. 1 BTC is thus divisible into satoshis (sats), up to eight decimal places (1 BTC = 100 million sats).
Regarding Bitcoin mining, miners today are mining Bitcoin using ASIC chips dedicated to mining Bitcoin. Bitcoin uses the SHA-256 hashing algorithm with an average transaction confirmation time of 10 minutes.
Bitcoin has inspired other alternative currencies such as Litecoin, Peercoin, Primecoin, and so on.
Cryptocurrencies similar to Bitcoin supported by our hardware wallet
Securely manage, buy, swap, and stake 5.500+ coins
Frequently Asked Questions
The idea originally came from Satoshi Nakamoto, who produced the original Bitcoin white paper, describing the principles behind a currency that was entirely electronic and independent from any banks, governments or any other central authority. The first mined block, also known as the Genesis Block, contained a reference to the fractional reserve banking system which Bitcoin was designed to be an alternative to.
The Bitcoin network’s purpose is to enable users to send Bitcoins to one another . Mining keeps the Bitcoin process secure by chronologically adding new blocks (each block containing several transactions) to the chain. Bitcoin relies on “proof-of-work” as a consensus algorithm: The miners help verify every transaction by solving a cryptographic puzzle, and then add the verified block of transactions to the distributed ledger. Bitcoin’s built-in reward system compensates successful miners with a few Bitcoins. Bitcoin is the first blockchain ever created relying on proof-of-work. It has since spread to become widely used in many cryptocurrencies.
Transactions are connected to a user’s Bitcoin address, which is derived from the user’s private key. A transaction on the Bitcoin blockchain can be seen as a transfer of value between Bitcoin wallets. In reality it’s more similar to a transfer of ownership, a Bitcoin recipient being assigned the right to use the newly acquired Bitcoins using his own private key . Private keys are required to sign transaction and assign new ownership. The signature also prevents the transaction from being altered by anybody once it has been issued. All Bitcoin transactions are forever publicly kept in the network, which means the balance and the transactions of any Bitcoin addresses can be consulted by everyone.
A node on the Bitcoin network is simply a computer running the Bitcoin software. The Bitcoin network counts several thousands of active nodes around the world, with the highest concentration in the United States.
The total supply of bitcoins is limited to 21 millions, and between 4 and 6 millions are already considered unusable due to probable loss of the corresponding private keys.
On the Bitcoin network, a block is mined every ten minutes. The exact time frame depends on the efficiency of the global network of mining nodes. Bitcoin uses the Hashcash proof-of-work function, and the more nodes are working toward finding the solution to the cryptographic puzzle, the faster a solution will be found. To maintain the normal 10-minute block time the hashing difficulty algorithm is adjusted every two weeks.
The Bitcoin proof-of-work system is using a lot of energy, and the electric consumption increases with the usage of the network. Bitcoin detractors are using this argument to explain why Bitcoin won’t be able to scale and be used as a global currency. Although this is a valid argument, Bitcoin’s proponents argue that the electricity used is mostly coming from renewable energy and are betting on a second-layer solution like the lightning network to solve both the transaction speed and energy cost limitations.
Initially, the primary step is to create a crypto wallet if you haven’t done it yet. Once you have completed this step, the process of executing a Bitcoin transfer is quite similar to almost every crypto wallet.
- Enter the recipient address of the Bitcoin wallet you want to send BTC.
- Enter the amount or quantity of Bitcoin you wish to send.
- Choose the Network fees.
- Verify the transaction summary before sending it.
However, it is crucial to follow our advice before sending Bitcoin to another wallet:
- For optimal security, make sure always to double-check the addresses that you copy and paste. When possible, using a QR code address might be the preferable method, just to be absolutely certain.
- For larger transactions, it may be a good idea to send a small amount of Bitcoin as a test, to make sure the address is correct.
- For a wallet that supports multiple cryptocurrencies, it’s also important to select the correct coin. Sending Bitcoin (BTC) to a Bitcoin Cash (BCH) address, for example, could result in a permanent loss of funds.
- For sending Bitcoin quickly, higher-fee transactions are usually given higher priority by Bitcoin miners and will reach their destination in a shorter amount of time.
No, at the moment, the Ledger Bitcoin wallet does not support Lightning Network.
When you first buy coin, you’re issued with two keys: public and private.
- A public key serves as an address that can be shared with other parties to perform transactions.
- A private key represents a randomly generated number that signs transactions and protects your assets from malicious attacks. If it gets compromised or lost, you won’t be able to access your cold wallet to spend, withdraw, or transfer your coins.
To safeguard and keep track of your keys, you can use online or offline wallets. Online wallets, also known as hot wallets, store private keys on systems or devices that are connected to the internet. Hot wallets are easy and convenient to use, however, they come with several drawbacks. Besides being susceptible to attacks and a honeypot for hackers, with hot wallets, the custody of private keys is often entrusted to a third party such as a crypto exchange, which means you never have full control over your funds. The safer choice are specialized hardware wallets that store private keys offline. Stealing private keys from a hardware wallet would require physical access to the wallet and corresponding PIN or the recovery phrase. What’s more, with hardware wallet, you don’t need to rely on third party custodians.
Ledger Nano is the industry-leading hardware wallet. With more than five million customers, Ledger Nano wallets have several layers of security that protect private keys, and hence your assets:
- Your private keys are stored on secure element chips.
- A PIN code and a 24-word recovery phrase are required to access the wallet.
- Ledger Nano cryptocurrency wallets have been built using highly durable materials for protection against physical damage.
With full isolation between private keys and your computer/mobile, Ledger Nano cold wallets keep your keys secure and give you complete control over your cryptos.
Related Resources
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As a cryptocurrency expert, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to guide you through the intricate world of digital assets, specifically focusing on Bitcoin and its secure management. I have a demonstrable understanding of various concepts and technologies, evident in my ability to break down complex topics with clarity and precision.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts highlighted in the provided article:
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Ledger Hardware Wallets:
- Ledger hardware wallets are recommended for securely storing Bitcoin. These wallets use offline storage for private keys, making them resistant to malicious attacks.
- The Ledger Live App is a companion application that allows users to manage their Bitcoin on the go, providing features like real-time balance checking and transaction history tracking.
-
How to Get a Bitcoin Wallet:
- The article recommends obtaining a Ledger hardware wallet, such as Ledger Nano S Plus or Ledger Nano X.
- Users need to download and install the Ledger Live app on desktop or mobile to create a secure Bitcoin wallet.
-
Managing Bitcoin with Ledger Live:
- Ledger Live enables users to securely execute transactions by physically validating them with the Ledger Hardware Wallet.
- Users can manage not only Bitcoin but also thousands of other cryptocurrencies and a variety of NFTs through Ledger Live.
-
Buying and Swapping Bitcoin:
- The article explains that users can easily buy Bitcoin with a credit/debit card or bank transfer using Ledger Live.
- Swapping Bitcoin through Ledger Live allows users to explore different crypto assets without using fiat currencies.
-
Comparing Ledger Wallets:
- The article compares Ledger hardware wallets, including Ledger Nano S Plus, Ledger Nano X, and the upcoming Ledger Stax, highlighting their features and customer reviews.
-
Bitcoin Overview:
- Bitcoin is introduced as the first successful form of digital money based on peer-to-peer technology, allowing decentralized transactions without central authority involvement.
- The article touches on Bitcoin's key characteristics: scarcity, fungibility, and divisibility.
-
Bitcoin Mining:
- The article explains the purpose of Bitcoin mining, which is to enable users to send Bitcoins to one another securely.
- Bitcoin mining involves solving cryptographic puzzles through a proof-of-work consensus algorithm, and miners are rewarded with newly created Bitcoins.
-
Bitcoin Hashing Algorithm and Difficulty:
- The article discusses the SHA-256 hashing algorithm used in Bitcoin mining and how the difficulty adjusts every two weeks to maintain a 10-minute block time.
- It mentions the energy consumption concerns of Bitcoin mining and the potential solutions proposed by both detractors and proponents.
-
Sending Bitcoin to Another Wallet:
- The article provides steps on how to send Bitcoin to another wallet, emphasizing the importance of double-checking addresses, using QR codes, and selecting the correct coin.
-
Ledger Nano Security:
- The Ledger Nano hardware wallet is highlighted as an industry-leading solution with secure element chips, PIN codes, and recovery phrases to protect private keys.
-
Additional Resources:
- The article concludes with links to related resources, such as explanations of hardware wallets, crypto wallets, and the differences between hardware and cold wallets.
This comprehensive guide from Ledger caters to both beginners and experienced users, offering a secure and user-friendly solution for managing Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.