Ledger Live Wallet — technical overview
A developer- and power-user-focused landing page showcasing Ledger Live's architecture, security model, integrations and operational details. Designed for engineering teams, auditors and technically inclined users who want a deep, transparent view of how Ledger Live enables secure ownership.
Platform support
| Platform | Supported |
|---|---|
| Windows | ✓ |
| macOS | ✓ |
| Linux | ✓ |
| iOS | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ |
Technical specs
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Signing | On-device (Secure Element) |
| Seed | BIP-39 24-word (optional passphrase BIP-39 + BIP-32) |
| RPC | Read-only nodes & partner APIs (no private key exposure) |
| Languages | Electron (desktop), native mobile (Swift/Kotlin), Rust/Go services |
Quick install
curl -sSfL https://ledger.example.com/install | sh # or download native installers from the official site
CLI example — create a watch-only account
ledger-live-cli accounts:add --network ethereum --address 0x1234...abcd ledger-live-cli accounts:list
Architecture & data flow
Ledger Live separates responsibilities: the app orchestrates UIs and network calls; partner APIs provide market data and swap utilities; the Ledger hardware device holds private keys and performs signing operations. The interaction model ensures private key material never leaves the device.
Core features — technical perspective
Integration examples
Developers can interact with ledger-live features via the companion CLI or local RPC-like endpoints for integrations. Below is a minimal Node.js example that requests a signed Ethereum message from the connected device.
import LedgerTransportNodeHid from '@ledgerhq/hw-transport-node-hid';
import Eth from '@ledgerhq/hw-app-eth';
async function signMessage() {
const transport = await LedgerTransportNodeHid.create();
const eth = new Eth(transport);
const msg = 'Hello Ledger';
const result = await eth.personalSign("0x" + Buffer.from(msg).toString('hex'), "44'/60'/0'/0/0");
console.log(result);
}
Security & compliance
Ledger Live follows a defense-in-depth approach. Hardware isolates secrets; software enforces least-privilege; updates are signed and verifiable. The project maintains a public security page with advisories, CVE references and third-party audit reports.
| Control | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Secure Element | FIPS-like / certified chip used for key isolation |
| Firmware signing | Signed firmware releases with deterministic hashes |
| Code audits | Third-party audits & open-source components listed in docs |
Operational guidance
- Always verify the download checksum of installers from the official site.
- Register devices using your internal asset policy and track firmware versions centrally.
- Use watch-only accounts for monitoring and restrict signing to dedicated machines with Ledger devices attached.
- Rotate company-owned devices according to your security policy and maintain secure seed storage (e.g., HSM or physical safe for multisig backup).
FAQ
- Can Ledger Live be used in CI/CD or server environments?
- Signing requires a physical device; Ledger Live is intended for user-attended workflows. For automated signing, consider multisig patterns or HSMs designed for unattended environments.
- Is private key material ever transmitted?
- No — private keys remain in the Secure Element. Only signed payloads or public keys are exposed to the host app.
- Where can I find audit reports?
- Audit and transparency reports are linked from the official documentation and security page. We recommend reviewing the latest reports before adoption.