You’ve seen it teased on our website and in our social posts. Now, the Leather team is proud to announce that starting today, our extension users can enjoy the extra security that comes with a Ledger device for Bitcoin and Ordinals transactions.
Many of our Leather desktop application users – particularly users who participate in the Stacking process – may already be familiar with Ledger devices and how hardware wallets can work in conjunction with software-based wallet applications. But as Bitcoin Web3 grows, we wanted to offer our extension application users the extra layer of security that comes with a hardware wallet.
This is especially true as more of our users connect to DeFi protocols, Ordinal platforms and other decentralized applications built on Bitcoin.
As a Leather Bitcoin Wallet User, What Can I Do With My Ledger Device?
When it comes to Bitcoin transactions, users can send and receive BTC using their Ledger device through the Leather interface. You’ll need to set up your Ledger device beforehand (read our user guide for more) but once setup is complete, you can connect your Ledger device to complete basic Bitcoin transactions.
If you’re looking to receive BTC from another user, you can copy the address shown in the Leather account that is connected to your Ledger device. Since you successfully set up your Ledger device, the address you see with your Leather account should also match the address in your Ledger device.
If you’re sending BTC to another user, you’ll be asked to verify a number of details within the Ledger device itself to complete the transaction with the associated account. The final transaction confirmation will take place within Leather.
Users can also use the Leather account connected to their Ledger device to buy and sell digital artifacts with some of the biggest Ordinals marketplaces. As of today, the following Ordinals marketplaces and platforms are compatible with the Leather-Ledger integration:
Whether you’re looking to buy Ordinals, send, trade or receive inscriptions, you can now do so with the Ledger device connected to your Leather account. Especially with this year’s Ordinals boom, our users should have the option to explore Ordinals marketplaces with an additional resource that helps them securely manage new collectibles.
In addition to Ordinals platforms, you can also use your Ledger device to connect to other platforms like ALEX and Unisat. Users with Bitcoin Stamps collections can also use their Ledger device to connect to Openstamp and view their Stamp collection. This makes Leather the only Ledger-compatible wallet that allows users to hold Bitcoin Stamps and is part of our efforts to expand Stamps support.
Of course, this is just the beginning. Our Leather team is working to give users with a Ledger device access to even more protocols and platforms in the future.
Why Integrate a Hardware Wallet With a Bitcoin Wallet Extension App?
Hardware wallets like Ledger and browser extension wallets like Leather can work together seamlessly to enhance the security of your Bitcoin holdings. A hardware wallet, as we mentioned, is a physical device that stores the private keys necessary to access your digital assets offline, which makes it highly resistant to online hacking attempts. On the other hand, browser extension wallets are software-based wallets that not only provide a convenient way to manage your assets, but their generally self-custodial nature ensures that users also have full control over their private keys and assets.
By combining the two, users can enjoy the best of both worlds. When you initiate a transaction through a browser extension wallet, sensitive information like the transaction details and private key can be securely processed and signed within the hardware wallet.
This approach does add an extra layer of security by leveraging the strengths of both hardware and extension wallet solutions. Even if your computer is compromised, your hardware wallet can act as a safeguard that ensures your private key stays confidential. This, combined with the self-custodial nature of extension-based wallets like Leather, effectively puts you in full control of not only your own assets, but your information as you explore the wider Web3 space.
Building a More Secure and Versatile Bitcoin Wallet
Giving our users the option to connect their Ledger device with our extension is another step in our goal to build the most secure and versatile Bitcoin wallet.
Web3 on Bitcoin is growing, and so is the need for a Bitcoin wallet that can safely and easily give users access to this evolving ecosystem of decentralized apps. While the Leather extension app already offers users the ability to have full control over their assets and wallet activity, the added security of a Ledger hardware device is another possibility for users who want to make sure their keys and assets are protected.
Whether you’re a longtime Bitcoin user or new to the Ordinals scene, you can rest assured that our integration with Ledger can give you the engaging – and secure – experience you seek with Bitcoin Web3.
