Just the other day, I was talking to a single mom from my local crypto meetup. She keeps her few hundred bucks’ worth of Bitcoin saved on her Nano S. This is important because it serves as a safety net for her kids. When she learned that Ledger was pulling support for this feature, her first response did not involve imagining cool new functionality—her reaction was just panic. "How am I supposed to afford a new one? This one still works!" Her words hit me hard. It can’t just be an exercise in upgrading, it’s about the equity in who gets left behind.

Planned Obsolescence Hits Crypto Hard

Sarah’s situation highlights a growing problem: planned obsolescence in the crypto hardware space. After all, we’ve come to expect it with phones, laptops, and yes—even cars. To see it make its way into crypto, where security should be the highest priority, feels all the more devious. Ledger defends the replacement by claiming that it’s necessary due to new security requirements and the demands of evolving crypto technologies. That sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? Let’s be real: is it really necessary to render a perfectly functional security device obsolete so quickly?

Apple rolls out a brand new iPhone every year, full of features that the average consumer probably doesn’t even utilize. Are we making the same mistake all over again? Let’s avoid the shiny new object syndrome and prevent our perfectly functional, more secure devices from all going into the e-waste heap.

This is more than an inconvenience, this is a national economic inequality crisis. Those who can afford it are easily lured to the newest and shiniest. Then what about people like Sarah, who was simply looking to protect her decades of savings? Or are they just collateral damage in a company’s endless drive for profit?

E-Waste: The Hidden Crypto Cost

Beyond the financial burden of plastic pollution, there is a serious environmental cost to consider. Electronic waste, or e-waste, is a huge and rapidly worsening issue. Toxic chemicals from discarded electronics, like cadmium and lead, leach into the soil and water, polluting our beautiful earth. Each new device that is manufactured comes with an inherent carbon footprint. Mining the materials, manufacturing the components, emitting the greenhouse gases while the finished product is shipped – it all adds up.

Consider this: the average smartphone lifespan is less than three years. But then mix crypto hardware wallets into that dumpster fire. Sure, one Ledger Nano S sounds like a drop of water in a vast ocean. When you scale that to millions of users around the globe, the environmental footprint adds up quickly.

  • Mining
  • Manufacturing
  • Shipping
  • Disposal

The inconvenient truth is that crypto, often touted as a revolutionary technology, is contributing to a very unrevolutionary problem: the ever-growing mountain of e-waste. It’s past time that we hold crypto companies to a higher standard of sustainability.

Demand Accessibility, Not Just Upgrades

So, what can be done? Instead of playing catch-up to get retrofits in place, we need to prioritize sustainable accessibility. Here are a few ideas:

  • Subsidized Upgrade Programs: Ledger could offer discounted or even free upgrades to low-income users. This would ensure that everyone has access to secure hardware, regardless of their financial situation.
  • Trade-In Options: Implement a trade-in program where users can return their old Nano S devices in exchange for a discount on a new device. This would encourage responsible disposal and reduce e-waste.
  • Open-Source Initiatives: Embrace open-source development, allowing the community to contribute to the maintenance and security of older devices. This could extend the lifespan of devices like the Nano S and reduce the need for frequent upgrades.
  • Longer Support Commitment: Companies should commit to supporting their devices for a longer period, ensuring that users can continue to use their hardware with confidence.

Ultimately, the question is: are we building a crypto ecosystem that serves everyone, or just those who can afford the latest gadgets? Is this the kind of innovation we want—to favor speed, sustainability and inclusivity?

It’s high past time for consumers to start expecting better from Ledger and other crypto firms. We need to push for responsible practices, advocate for digital inclusion, and hold these companies accountable for the environmental impact of their products. Don't just accept the planned obsolescence. Speak up. Share this article. Let your voice be heard. The future of crypto depends on it.