Ledger Nano X cold wallet

The Nano X can be thought of like a USB drive (or if you’re really old, like a floppy disk). The same way that photos on a USB stick can’t be accessed without being plugged into and connected to a device, neither can a seed phrase stored on the Nano X. This offers increased protection against hacking compared to hot wallets that remain connected to the blockchain. It is important to note that your crypto is NOT stored in the device the same way photos are stored on a USB. Crypto can only ever be stored on the block chain, instead this device stores your seed phrase which allows convenient access to your assets on the block chain.

The Nano X is USB-C and Bluetooth compatible meaning that it can easily connect to both desktop and mobile devices and is compatible with Windows, Linux, macOS, Android and iOS. Other newer options such as the Ledger Flex and Ledger Stax also include near field connection (NFC) connection which is a short-range wireless connection.

The Nano X only has 2 buttons which are used to scroll through options and to type in your pin which can make it a slightly fiddlier option compared to the newer touch screen devices. This again is down to personal preference

Once your Nano device is set up through the ledger live app, you still have to create accounts and install apps, such as a Bitcoin or Ethereum app, in order to receive and send crypto. Which app you download will depend on which crypto you wish to buy or trade. This is important as sending coins to an incompatible account with result in lost crypto. For example, sending Bitcoin to an Ethereum wallet or vice versa.

The Ledger Nano holds an EAL5+ certification which is a high level of security based on global security standards. This means that it must be found to protect against many physical attacks. The highest EAL level is 7 which is often reserved for military and government software. The Ledger Flex and Ledger Stax both have an EAL6+ certification meaning it has been tested against even more sophisticated attacks. Both of these ratings mean these devices are very secure. The + symbol means that there are additional safeguards and security measures in place above the requirements of the EAL level awarded.