I bought the Nano S years ago. It was meant to be my personal digital Fort Knox. Now they're telling me it's obsolete? That I have to upgrade? In the words of one frustrated tester on Twitter, “It’s like my bank telling me they’re replacing my safe deposit box and I have to order a brand new one. As you can guess, I very much agree with their closing sentiment. The fury among all of these folks is real, and with great justification.

Planned Obsolescence Hits Crypto Hard

You might recall a few years ago when Apple was caught red-handed hobbling older iPhones to push users toward new hardware. This feels awfully similar, doesn’t it? Except, this isn’t about streaming the newest TikToks at slightly higher speeds. This is about your money. Your hard-earned crypto. The hardware wallet dream was never about convenience, aesthetics, or novelty—but rather security, control, and longevity. A device that protected your digital wealth from the vagaries of centralized exchanges and the constant danger of hackers. So sunsetting the Nano S doesn’t just feel like a rug pull, it feels like a betrayal of that core promise.

Ledger says it's about storage capacity. That the Nano S is no longer able to cope with the complexities of modern crypto. Isn’t that the same as saying your bank vault is no longer able to accommodate larger currency notes. It’s security, not storage that we are shelling out for!

Is Decentralization Just a Facade?

The whole spirit of cryptocurrency is about decentralization, taking trust out of centralized institutions. Unfortunately, that’s not the case and now we’re left to take on faith Ledger’s logic, Ledger’s justifications and it seems, Ledger’s product roadmap going forward. Where's the choice? Where's the control we were promised?

Consider this: you wouldn't expect a traditional bank to invalidate your physical key to your safety deposit box, forcing you to buy a new one and transfer everything over. Why should Ledger get a free pass? Just take a look at the backlash that’s already brewing over on Reddit and Twitter. The anger is real, the disappointment profound. People feel duped.

Ledger's silence only exacerbates the problem. No straight answers, no real efforts to meet users’ needs i.e. Just a cold, corporate shrug.

  • "I feel like I'm being held hostage by Ledger."
  • "This is a blatant cash grab."
  • "So much for 'secure storage' if they just decide to stop supporting it."

Is Ledger prioritizing profits over its users? Are they trading away the safety and assurance of their current clientele? The intent is, or at least appears to be, making more rapid sales on newer, more expensive devices. It’s an important question to ask, particularly given the perilous security implications.

Profits Over People, Crypto's Dark Side?

Without security updates, the Nano S is basically a ticking time bomb. A reason to worry, a vulnerability just waiting to be found, or a potential target for malicious exploits. And what of those users who are not in a position to purchase a new device? Or are they just abandoned to figure it all out on their own?

I know the crypto space likes to tout how inclusive it is, how it’s democratizing finance. Moves like this only add to the perception that it’s just a playground for the rich. It also highlights a different front in the fight against corporate greed.

Ledger wants to paint the Nano S sunset as an unavoidable evil of market forces. Make no mistake, this change should be a shot across the bow for the entire crypto community. We need to raise the bar higher with the corporations we’ve entrusted to hold our online belongings. We need to hold them accountable. Keep this in mind: the true potential of crypto lies in its decentralized nature. It doesn’t happen due to capitulating to the whims of corporate overlords. Let’s not let Ledger forget that.

What You Can Do:

  1. Make Your Voice Heard: Flood Ledger's social media channels with your concerns. Use the hashtag #LedgerNanoSBoycott to amplify the message.
  2. Explore Open-Source Alternatives: Consider switching to a hardware wallet that prioritizes user control and longevity. Research open-source options that aren't beholden to corporate interests.
  3. Back Up Your Seed Phrase: This is always crucial, but especially now. Make sure you have a secure backup of your seed phrase in case you need to migrate to a new wallet.

The Nano S sunset might be a necessary evil in Ledger’s eyes, but it’s a wake-up call for the entire crypto community. We need to demand more from the companies we trust with our digital assets. We need to hold them accountable. And we need to remember that the true power of crypto lies in decentralization, not in blindly following the dictates of corporate overlords. Let’s not let Ledger forget that.