Is Ledger Open Source?

Is Ledger open source? It’s the question every crypto user asks when choosing a hardware wallet. The answer isn’t black-and-white—Ledger blends openness with secrecy, sparking debates over trust and security. Let’s dive in.

Ledger adopts a hybrid approach to open source. While it's not fully open source, about 95% of its ecosystem is publicly accessible, including the Ledger Live app, blockchain apps, and development tools. This reflects a commitment to transparency while maintaining strong security standards.

The remaining proprietary portion primarily concerns the firmware that interacts with the Secure Element chip. Ledger keeps this part closed due to legal agreements with the chip manufacturer and to prevent potential vulnerabilities from being exposed. This approach contrasts with fully open-source wallets like Trezor, emphasizing stronger hardware-level security over complete transparency.

In essence, Ledger strikes a balance: it opens most of its software for public review while protecting sensitive components to safeguard users' assets.