Ledger's Nano S Discontinuation: Why the 'King of Hardware Wallets' May Have Just Shattered Its Own Throne

The End of an Era

Ledger’s announcement to discontinue support for the Nano S—launched in 2016—isn’t merely a product lifecycle decision. It’s a strategic pivot disguised as technical necessity. With only 320KB of memory, the device can no longer accommodate modern Ethereum, DeFi, or NFT applications. But let’s be clear: this isn’t about security—it’s about margins.

Memory Isn’t the Real Issue

The argument that ‘memory limits’ forced this move is thin. Compare Apple: even the iPhone 6 (2015) still receives iOS security patches at age nine. Hardware wallets are meant to outlive smartphones by decades—not years. Ledger’s choice reflects business strategy, not engineering principle.

Closed Ecosystems vs Open Trust

Nano S was built on open firmware—a rarity among hardware wallets. Yet Ledger blocked community modifications, requiring official approval for every update. This contradiction—selling an open device while locking its evolution—is why users feel betrayed.

The $500M Transition Trap

Analysts estimate that transitioning 4M+ users to Passport Prime could generate over $500M in new revenue. The tone? ‘Not guaranteed.’ A bureaucratic phrase designed to manufacture urgency—and justify upgrade pressure.

Conclusion: A Throne Built on Sand?

Ledger once defined trust through transparency. Now it trades legitimacy for margin expansion. If you build your cold storage on principles, not products—you’ll remember this moment long after the last patch drops.