- NFC (Near Field Communication): A short-range wireless technology used to securely connect devices by tapping.
- Ledger Flex: A crypto wallet device with built-in NFC that works with Ledger’s latest recovery tools.
- Ledger Stax: A touchscreen hardware wallet designed for easy crypto management, also supports NFC.
- Ledger Recover: A paid, cloud-based key recovery service launched in 2023. The service faced backlash over privacy concerns and was briefly paused, but it is still active today.
Ledger, a leading company that makes hardware wallets for cryptocurrency, has launched a new offline tool to help users recover their crypto wallets without using the internet or saving any personal information.
The new tool is called Ledger Recovery Key. It works with Ledger Flex or Ledger Stax devices and stores your private key on a smart card that uses NFC. You can keep it safe and access it using a special PIN code.
This tool is different from Ledger’s older service, Ledger Recover, which saves parts of your recovery phrase on secure cloud servers. The new Ledger Recovery Key is completely offline and gives users more control and privacy.
How Does It Work?
With Ledger Recovery Key, users can get back access to their crypto by simply tapping the smart card on their Ledger device and entering a PIN.
The tool works only with NFC-enabled Ledger Flex and Ledger Stax wallets. It uses a secure wireless connection to talk directly to your Ledger device, no internet, no cloud, and no middleman.
Ledger Recovery Key is a physical smart card that safely stores your private key offline, giving you full control and strong protection.
How Safe Is It?
To show users it’s secure, Ledger has made the Ledger Recovery Key’s software code open to the public on GitHub, and even published a white paper that explains how it works.
The tool has been carefully tested by Ledger’s own security team, Donjon, which includes ethical hackers, and also reviewed by outside cybersecurity experts, like the company Synacktiv.
“We got great feedback from top security experts and leaders in the crypto world, now we’re excited to share it with the public and get even more feedback before the official launch.” Charles Guillemet, Ledger’s Chief Technology Officer
As more people want better control over their crypto, tools like Ledger Recovery Key show that strong security doesn’t have to depend on the internet or cloud storage. With simple tap-and-PIN access, full offline protection, and expert-tested safety, this new smart card could change the game. But the question remains, will more people choose offline tools, or will cloud services like Ledger Recover still be trusted in the future?