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  • Top 3 Cryptocurrency Hardware Wallets: Which One’s Best?

    Top 3 Cryptocurrency Hardware Wallets: Which One’s Best?

    We compare the top 3 cryptocurrency hardware wallets available on the market: Ledger Nano X, Trezor Model T, and KeepKey. They are designed to keep your private keys — and thus your cryptocurrencies stored safely offline.

    Features that will be Used to Compare the 3 Hardware Wallets

    We will compare the Ledger Nano X, Trezor Model T and KeepKey hardware wallets to see which one is the best by looking at these features:

    • Price
    • Security
    • Hardware design
    • Multi-currency support
    • Ease of use

    You can also check out our individual reviews for each of these devices:

    Price (Winner: KeepKey)

    The much lower price of the KeepKey is probably because it is the oldest of the 3 devices.

    • Ledger Nano X: US$149.00.
    • Trezor Model T: US$267.00.
    • KeepKey: US$79.00.

    KeepKey wins based on price alone, followed by Ledger Nano X and Trezor Model T.

    Security (Winner: Ledger Nano X)

    Ledger Nano X

    It is the only hardware wallet with 2 layers of security. The device has an additional secure element chip with its own storage and functionality. It cannot be breached by hackers even if connected to a compromised mobile phone or computer.

    Ledger Nano X Teardown
    Ledger Nano X Teardown showing Secure Element Chip

    It is also the only hardware wallet with CC EAL 5+ certification i.e. it has been tested on an international standard for computer security certification and ranked as being formally designed and tested. Together with its predecessor the Nano S, they are the only 2 hardware wallets on the market with CSPN (First Level Security Certificate) certification issued by the ANSSI (National Agency for Information Systems Security).

    Similar to the Model T and KeepKey, users can set up wallets protected by a passphrase in addition to your PIN code. So say a thief demands you to unlock your device, you can give them the PIN code to access wallets with fewer funds. Whilst hiding the bulk of your crypto behind passphrase protected wallets.

    The Nano X has the addition of Bluetooth support. Unfortunately Bluetooth’s security record is not spotless and presents a new vector of attack for the device. Ledger CTO Nicolas Bacca stated during an interview that the Bluetooth on the Nano X functions assuming the connection has been compromised. So it will only send transactional information and at no point will hackers be able to take over the device.

    Trezor Model T

    Its unique feature is that the Model T has publicly available code to protect users in the unlikely event that its manufacturer SatoshiLabs shuts down. This means that other developers can maintain the wallet and add new functions to it.

    The Model T is also compatible with other BIP32, BIP39 and BIP44 compatible wallets. So whilst it is not recommended, users can use their Model T recovery seed to recover their funds using another company’s hardware wallet.

    The Model T and KeepKey both have number randomisation on the PIN code keypad to prevent hackers from stealing your cryptocurrencies with malware.

    The device allows users to set up wallets protected by an additional passphrase.

    KeepKey

    Similar to the Nano X and Model T, the KeepKey allows you to recover your device with a recovery seed, and you can set your unique PIN code and additional passphrase for “secret” wallets.

    The KeepKey also has PIN code keypad randomisation to combat attacks using malware.

    Verdict

    Ledger Nano X wins for uniquely having 2 layers of security which brings the most wide-reaching and immediate benefit to users. Followed by the Trezor Model T and the KeepKey.

    However, it must be mentioned that Kraken Security Labs managed to hack the chips inside the Model T, Trezor One, and KeepKey, as they all share the same architecture. They could recover the recovery phrases by having physical access to the devices. Although the companies have since issued various software upgrades that make it difficult or, in case of adding an extra password phrase protection, impossible to hack it, the inherent vulnerability is still present in their underlying chips. So it could be said that the Nano X not only wins, but wins by a landslide.

    Hardware design (Winner: Trezor Model T)

    Nano X, Model T and KeepKey. Apple Airpods for scale
    Nano X, Model T and KeepKey. Apple Airpods for scale
    Size (mm)Screen Size (pixels)Screen TypeWeight
    (g)    		ConnectionControls
    Nano X72 x 18.6 x11.75128 x 64OLED34USB-C2 buttons
    Model T64 x 39 x 10240 x 240Colour22USB-CTouchscreen
    KeepKey38 x 93.5 x12.2256 x 64OLED54USB-A1 button

    Nano X’s USB Type-C is a welcome feature for any Macintosh computer users. It will become helpful as more devices switch away from USB micro-B to the newer USB Type-C.

    For the Model T, the touch screen is a welcome addition. But if you have larger fingers you may find you will have to use your pinky finger to operate the device accurately.

    Meanwhile, the KeepKey has the largest screen of the 3 and thus the easiest to see. It also definitely has the most substantial feel when holding it.

    Verdict

    Trezor Model T finds the balance between device size with the most functionally superior screen. Followed by the Ledger Nano X and the KeepKey.

    Multi-Currency Support (Winner: Ledger Nano X)

    Ledger Nano X

    It is one of the most diverse support for different cryptocurrencies with over 1800 assets supported. Many cryptocurrencies like Vechain (VET) or NEO are not found on the Model T or KeepKey, making Ledger the only hardware wallet available for many coins.

    It is also the only device which supports IDEX or Switcheo exchanges.

    Trezor Model T

    The device also supports over 1800 cryptocurrencies, and is integrated with decentralized exchanges such as IDEX and Switcheo.

    KeepKey

    Supports some of the major cryptocurrencies and 40+ ERC-20 tokens. This is substantially less than that of the Nano X and Model T.

    Verdict

    Ledger Nano X wins by having support for DEXs such as IDEX and Switcheo exchanges and exclusively supporting many more cryptocurrencies that even Model T doesn’t. Conversely from my research of top 100 market cap list, I could find only a couple of cryptocurrencies that are exclusive to the Model T or the KeepKey and not available on Ledger devices.

    This is followed by the Trezor Model T and the KeepKey in 2nd and 3rd place respectively.

    Check out our comparison of the cryptocurrencies supported by the Nano X, Model T and KeepKey. Or see the full list of supported cryptocurrencies for the Nano X, Model T and KeepKey.

    Ease of use (Winner: Ledger Nano X)

    Ledger Nano X

    Firstly, setup is a pain as you have to install the Ledger Live desktop app. Then you need to install the individual apps for each of the coins you will use.

    Note that installed apps are for usage, so if you uninstall an app to make room for another coin- you will still retain your cryptocurrency balance for the uninstalled app. This can be troublesome and is a major disadvantage of the device.

    That being said, once the initial setup is complete, the Ledger Live app is very intuitive and easy to use. The pop-up window displays all your basic information e.g. amount, date, to/from account and transaction fees (which as we see the other devices don’t do!) in a clear format.

    Ledger transaction screen
    Ledger transaction screen

    Its’ unique mobile feature, whilst controversial for some due to security concerns and whether it is practical at all, can be a huge plus for some specific users.

    Ledger Live Mobile
    Using Ledger Live on mobile

    Trezor Model T

    The Model T is comparatively easier to set up since you only need to download the Trezor bridge and then use your device via the Trezor website. Unlike the Nano X you don’t need to download any apps for the coins you want to use your device with.

    Trezor transaction screen
    Trezor transaction screen

    However, looking for information on specific transactions is overly complicated. From the above picture, you can see the information immediately displayed on the website is very basic.

    To find out more you will need to click on the time of the transaction (which isn’t obvious at all). A separate blockchain explorer window will then pop up, where you will need to find your transaction amongst a sea of others.

    Trezor explorer screen
    Trezor explorer screen-I eventually found my transaction somewhere amongst this list.

    As a relative newbie to cryptocurrency, I find this page very intimidating.

    KeepKey

    The KeepKey actually has the simplest setup, you only need to download and install the KeepKey client. You then use the device with the client only.

    The interface is the cleanest of the 3 devices. But again I find the displayed information insufficient. But unlike the Model T it is obvious that you click on “details” to find out more.

    KeepKey transaction screen
    Keepkey transaction screen

    This will open up a blockchain explorer where you again have to find your transaction like a needle in a haystack.

    KeepKey explorer screen
    KeepKey explorer screen-again my transaction was hidden somewhere on this page

    Since having been acquired by ShapeShift, the KeepKey wallet installation, setup and use was transitioned to the ShapeShift’s web platform. Installation is very straightforward and intuitive, with the user only having to download and install an updater software, while the rest of the setup happens inside the browser on the ShapeShift website.

    Sending transactions is also very smooth, and the transaction fees are also calculated at before transaction signing is required.

    Verdict

    Sending and receiving is basically the same on all 3 devices and is intuitive.

    Ledger Nano X loses points for having the additional step of installing apps for the coins you use. However it is redeemed by the clean interface and displaying just enough basic information without having to dig through the blockchain explorer.

    This is followed by the KeepKey and the Model T.

    Final score (Overall winner: Ledger Nano X)

    Ledger Nano XTrezor Model TKeepKey
    Price⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Security⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Hardware design⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Multi-currency support⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Ease of use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Final score (no. of stars)13 9 8

    So now we compared the top 3 cryptocurrency hardware wallets, which one is best?

    Ledger Nano X is my top pick followed by the Trezor Model T and the KeepKey. Whilst it is not the cheapest device, it is justified by having the best security features and currency support. The initial set up is troublesome but afterwards the interface is easy to use and transaction information that I usually need to know is already available at a glance.

    Updated on 28th November 2019 by Angela Wang on the Nano X’s security certifications and multi-currency support.

  • Top 7 Countries for Cryptocurrency Investors (Tax-Free)

    Top 7 Countries for Cryptocurrency Investors (Tax-Free)

    Doing your taxes on your cryptocurrency trades has become a necessary burden for many as major nations continue to implement regulations on the industry, and this is actually a positive thing for global adoption. Huge nations such as the United States are currently looking to introduce stricter regulations for crypto and have already been taxing crypto profits. Therefore, to avoid unwanted meetings with the IRS, American investors are having to play by the old rules.

    But if that’s not something you’re into (long live financial freedom!) or you’re a crypto maximalist, the good news is there are several places in the world that might present better options for you.

    This article highlights seven countries around the world that are pro-crypto and some that will even allow you to trade and earn crypto income tax-free. Here’s our video comparing the top best countries for crypto investors. 

    1. Portugal
    • No capital gains tax on crypto
    • No personal income tax on crypto received

    Portugal is one of the most crypto-friendly countries in the world after establishing a Digital Transitional Action Plan in April 2020 to promote decentralization. The country experienced hyperinflation in the early 1990s which almost drove companies to bankruptcy, so it is no surprise the Portuguese people have shown trust towards crypto.

    If you’re making any capital gains from purchasing or selling cryptocurrencies you do not have to pay any taxes, nor is there any income tax on payments received in crypto. If you don’t hold an EU passport then you can invest 350,000 euros in funds in the country for five years to become eligible for citizenship via the Golden Visa Scheme. The best part is you’ll only need to spend seven days in Portugal per year, meaning you don’t have to permanently relocate.

    2. Bermuda

    • No income tax at all
    • No capital gains tax on crypto 

    As an example of Bermuda’s crypto-friendly nature, we only need to look at the Bitcoin ETF that was approved in late 2020 after years of unsuccessful attempts to launch in the United States. The Bermuda Stock Exchange approved Hashtag’s Nasdaq crypto ETF making it one of the first of its kind and proving that the country is likely to continue to be forward-thinking regarding crypto.

    It’s fairly easy to obtain residency in Bermuda as long as you have sufficient income. At least $2.5 million must be invested into real estate, businesses, or bonds in the country in return for a passport.

    3. Malta

    • No income or capital gains tax on long-term crypto investments
    • 35% income tax on crypto trading

    Malta is a southern European island in the Mediterranean Sea that has been using crypto for the longest time. Crypto traders receive 35 per cent in income tax as it is viewed as the same as stock trading by legal definition, but on the plus side, there is no income or capital gains tax on long-term investments in digital currencies. So if you’re a long-term hodler you would love Malta, but not so much if you’re a day trader. 

    If you’re not an EU citizen and want to become one you can buy Maltese citizenship and receive a passport in about one-and-a-half years at a cost of around $1 million dollars. This is more for long-term players who really want to cash out their crypto tax-free.

    4. Singapore

    • No capital gains tax on crypto
    • No existing crypto funds subject to taxation

    Singapore already enjoys the reputation of being one of the most business-friendly places on the globe and is slowly emerging as a safe haven for crypto investors as well. The country’s central bank believes the crypto ecosystem should be monitored to prevent money laundering and other illegal activities, however, also insists innovation should not be stifled. Singapore is known as the fintech hub of Asia as residents and companies do not have to pay any capital gains tax nor are there any existing funds subject to taxation. 

    Residency in Singapore is easy for students, who just need to study there for two years and pass a government exam, but the requirement is much higher for their investor program – at least 2.5 million Singaporean dollars (roughly US$1.8 million) must be invested into new businesses or funds.

    5. Switzerland

    • No capital gains tax on crypto
    • Bitcoin is legal tender in some regions

    Swiss banks were the first in the world to offer crypto companies business accounts in 2018 after recognizing that banking channels would help to eliminate fraud and encourage legitimate businesses in Switzerland. Crypto is classified as an asset and Bitcoin is recognized as legal tender in some regions so the narrative for crypto is generally positive. The Swiss don’t see crypto as a threat to their fiat currency.

    If you trade or hold any crypto as an investment in your own account and qualify as an individual trader you will not be liable for any capital gains taxes. Residency in the country is a bit tricky in comparison to other countries – you must be under the age of 55 and need to invest at least one million Swiss Francs in a way that stimulates new technology developments in the region.

    6. El Salvador

    • No income or capital gains tax on Bitcoin
    • Bitcoin recognized as legal tender
    • Building world’s first ‘Bitcoin City’

    El Salvador made mainstream media headlines and is the undisputed king when it comes to crypto-friendly regulation after Bitcoin was recognized as legal tender in 2021. Consequently, the country has no income tax or capital gains tax on Bitcoin and plans to maintain its status as a crypto hub by building the world’s first ‘Bitcoin City’.

    In the future it might also be possible to buy an extra passport and a new nationality with crypto. The law hasn’t been confirmed yet but ever since Bitcoin became legal tender in the country El Salvador has continued to accumulate and now holds more than 1,800 Bitcoin as they want to continue to build up their Bitcoin reserves. Do not be surprised to one day see El Salvador offering citizenship in exchange for crypto investments.

    7. St. Kitts & Nevis

    • No capital gains tax at all
    • Buy a passport for $150k or BTC equivalent
    • Move freely between Caribbean Union countries

    St. Kitts & Nevis is an island in the West Indies that has welcomed digital assets with open arms and implemented legislation to make crypto transactions easier under its Virtual Asset Bill of 2020. You can use crypto to buy a passport to this tax haven and the best part is you don’t even have to land in the country to get the passport. A passport costs about $150,000 or the equivalent in Bitcoin and you can get it in about four months.

    There is no capital gains tax in the country at all and local banks work happily with crypto investors. The island nation has Bitcoin ATMs placed throughout the country and you can live in any other Caribbean countries that are also part of the Caribbean Union.

    Conclusion

    At the end of the day there are still many countries that consider crypto to be a threat to their sovereignty yet each day more and more nations are realizing the benefits and possibilities of welcoming the innovation of blockchain and crypto. The treatment of digital assets varies depending on each country’s financial regulations and procedures, which is why it’s essential to do your own research and consult a tax advisor before deciding to immigrate.

  • Ledger Nano S Review (2023): Do I need to upgrade?

    Ledger Nano S Review (2023): Do I need to upgrade?

    Ledger Nano S was first released in 2016 with more than 3 million units sold around the world. Ledger announced that they will retire the Nano S in June 2022. This is to let its new and improved version, the Nano S Plus, take its place going forward. Even though Nano S will stop production, firmware upgrades for it will keep rolling out in the future.

    The final (and special) edition was called Ledger Nano S Final Edition. It came with a POAP card that allows you to claim an exclusive NFT created by the artist “what is real?”. However, it is sold out.

    We recommend you get the upgraded Ledger Nano S Plus as it has added DeFi and NFT friendly features. Check out our review of the Nano S Plus here.

    The Ledger Nano S Plus retails for USD$79.

    CLICK BELOW TO BUY!

    buy now

    Key features of the Ledger Nano S

    • Top of the line security to keep your cryptocurrencies safe and secure from hackers.
    • Affordable price- suitable for beginners who want a cheap and reliable hardware wallet.
    • Unique staking features so you can EARN cryptocurrency whilst keeping them secure. Learn more about staking here.
    Ledger Nano S
    Ledger Nano S

    Staking and Earning

    Ledger Live allows for staking a growing number of coins, including ETH (Ethereum), SOL (Solana), ATOM (Cosmos) and DOT (Polkadot). Users can lock up their cryptocurrencies and in return they get interest. This feature expands Ledger into more than just a secure place to store your cryptocurrency. It can even help you grow your digital assets.

    Depending on the coin, staking can be done natively on Ledger Live, or through a dedicated wallet. For example Yoroi Lite for ADA (Cardano). Staking is done in 3 simple steps for coins that can be staked on Ledger Live.

    First, freeze your assets by logging onto Ledger Live. Choose the relevant account for the asset you wish to stake and click “earn rewards”. A popup window will appear. There you will be allowed to select the amount in your wallet you wish to freeze. Secondly, vote for your validator(s) who will be making the blocks on your network. The cryptocurrency earned by making these blocks will be redistributed to voters. Lastly, claim your rewards by clicking “Claim” in your relevant account. Rewards are claimable every 24 hours.

    Swapping

    Ledger has released a Ledger Swap feature which allows users to exchange their cryptocurrencies through Challengly, Wyre, Paraswap and 1inch. You send your cryptocurrency from your device to the exchange, which will then send you back the swapped cryptocurrencies.

    To swap you will need: Ledger device, Ledger Live, the app for the crypto you want to swap and receive, and the exchange app.

    Lending

    Ledger is working with Compound (COMP), Aave (AAVE) to allow users to lend DAI, USDT and USDC through their decentralised finance (DeFi) protocols. The purpose of doing this is that the lender could earn an interest on their loan. Ledger Live has also integrated with Alkemi Earn. This is a lending-borrowing protocol that utilizes a permissioned liquidity pool of digital assets comprising ETH, wBTC and stablecoins. The purpose of which is to generate yield for liquidity providers.

    There are numerous benefits when using Ledger to lend:

    Control: You have control and proof that the crypto you lend and generated interest belong to you. When you lend on Compound, you receive cTokens as proof of ownership of lent cryptocurrencies and generated interest. You can redeem your assets and interest by sending cTokens back to the smart contract.

    Security: cTokens are stored on your ledger hardware wallets.

    Convenience: Compound’s lending features are available directly through Ledger Live.

    You can lend crypto using Compound or Aave and Ledger Live in 3 simple steps. Firstly, on Ledger Live’s Manager, install the application for the cryptocurrency you want to lend and create an account. Secondly, enable your account to authorise Compound/Aave’s smart contract to interact with your account. Finally, select the amount of cryptocurrencies you want to lend and issue a transaction to Compound/Aave. Verify and approve the transaction on your device.

    Security Features

    Ledger Nano S Security Features
    Ledger Nano S features 2 hardware chips: ST31H320 & STM32F042

    One of the key reasons to buy Ledger hardware wallets is the firms reputation for security. Cryptocurrencies hardware wallets are like bank accounts – they contain full access to funds and need banking grade security. Ledger Nano S contains two hardware chips:

    • Secure Element:  ST31H320 (secure) is independently certified CC EAL5+ and stores the private key and signs transactions
    • Operating system:  STM32F042 chip is responsible for Ledger’s BOLOS proprietary Operating System.

    Secure elements are separate pieces of hardware (second layer of security). Secure elements have their own storage and limited functionality that hackers cannot breach.

    Even if hackers or malware compromise your computer, the Ledger will still keep your cryptocurrencies secure. Devices like the Trezor One and Trezor Model T have chosen not have secure elements. And so only have a single layer of security.

    The Nano X, Nano S Plus and Nano S are the only cryptocurrency hardware wallets to receive CSPN (First Level Security Certificate) certification. This is issued by the ANSSI (National Agency for Information Systems Security). The certification scheme evaluates multiple aspects of a device’s security. For example firewall, identification, authentication and embedded software by putting it through multiple attack scenarios.

    Similar to the Nano X, users can also protect their funds using a PIN code and passphrase. The PIN code is to generally unlock your device to use it. Whilst you can also set up wallets protected by a passphrase in addition to your primary PIN code.

    If someone threatens you to unlock your device, you can give them the PIN code to access wallets with fewer funds. Meanwhile, passphrase protected wallets contain the bulk of your crypto assets.

    Ledger firmware version 1.6: security enhancements

    With firmware version 1.6., the security of the Nano S has been further enhanced.

    • 24 words recovery phrase confirmation has been simplified and shortened. Now for each of the 24 words of the recovery phrase, users will only choose among 4 words. Therefore making it much easier to get through the process;
    • The Nano S now has the Control Center feature that was originally on the Nano X. Allowing for functions such as accessing settings, locking device or deleting applications possible directly on the device;
    • Added support for Bitcoin Taproot upgrade;
    • Added support for the seed derivation algorithm EIP-2333. Thus allowing you to securely sign a deposit contract transaction for Ethereum 2.0 on your device;
    Before the firmware update
    Before the firmware update. The power consumption is in a predictable pattern.
    Ledger firmware update result
    After the firmware update. The device consumes power in an unpredictable pattern and inverts the PIN code display.

    After the update, we find that being unable to enter PIN code digits in order anymore may be slightly inconvenient. However with cryptocurrencies, security always comes up top over convenience. And with the added partial screen inversion, we see that Ledger’s bounty program is not just a PR stunt. Ledger actually looked into submissions and made the security improvements even when the suggested hack was only hypothetical.

    Ledger Hack?

    In July 2020, Ledger confirmed they suffered a data breach. An unauthorised third party had accessed Ledger’s e-commerce and marketing database. (www.gamepur.com) Ledger collaborated with forensic firm Orange Cyberdefense and determined that the data breach affected around 292,000 customers and exposed approximately 20,000 customer personal records.

    Ledger had reported the matter to authorities and are working with Orange Cyberdefense to investigate.

    Subsequent the breach, users have reported receiving phishing emails and texts. These emails and texts ask users to download a new version of the Ledger software. Clicking the email link redirects users to a fake Ledger site. If users download the “update”, it asks for their Ledger’s recovery phrase but is actually malware. The attacker uses the entered recovery phrase to recover the user’s wallet and sends the user’s cryptocurrencies to the attacker’s wallet. For a full explainer on how the phishing attack works see the report from Kraken.

    phishing-email
    Phishing email sent from info@ledgersupport.io address (Image credit: Kraken)

    Therefore this incident was a “data breach” rather than a “hack”. More importantly, this breach had no link or impact on the Ledger hardware wallets or the Ledger Live app. Cryptocurrencies stored on the Ledger devices have never been at risk.

    Even before the firmware update, the Nano S scored full marks on security. We also note that the hack does not affect the Ledger device itself, so our scores remain unchanged.

    Security: 5/5

    Multi-Currency Support

    Supported Coins on Ledger Nano S
    Supported Coins on the Ledger Nano S

    Ledger has one of the most diverse support for different cryptocurrencies such as Algorand (ALGO), Solana (SOL) and Chainlink (LINK). With their open policy to development from project teams, the Ledger Nano S supports 1800+ different assets. Many of these assets like Vechain or NEO are not found on competitors like the Trezor Model T or KeepKey. Thus making Ledger the only hardware wallet available for many coins.

    One of the initial weaknesses of the Nano S was that it only fit 2-3 apps on the device. However Firmware Version 1.6 allowed users to install 5-11 apps (depending on the type of app installed). This will certainly answer the prayers of a lot of average cryptocurrency holders who generally hold around 5-10 different coins.

    If you need more apps, you can uninstall the ones you’re not using and reinstall them later. Uninstalling apps won’t delete coins and all account information will remain. The newly released Ledger Nano X fixes this problem by increasing the internal memory to 2 MB.

    Ledger’s firmware update directly addressed a significant weakness in the Nano S. Whilst it still can’t beat the Nano X in terms of multi-currency support, it is good enough for most traders. For this reason, we give our thumbs up and bumped the score up from 4/5 to 4.5/5 for multi-currency support.

    Multi-Currency Support: 4.5/5

    Hardware Design

    Ledger Nano S Screen
    Ledger Nano S compared with Nano X

    Ledger Nano S has two hardware buttons – located on the top of the device. These two buttons allows us to access menus (hold both buttons), make selections (press both buttons). And even input recovery phrases (use buttons to scroll). We found that entering PINs and recovery phrases to be tedious with only 2 buttons. Perhaps a touchscreen or additional buttons could have helped?

    With the update 1.6, the Ledger Nano S has an improved display UI. So, the device displays the full cryptocurrency address without the need to scroll. This allows for easier verification of the target destination. The Nano S uses a USB micro-B interface for charging and connecting to the PC.

    With its plans to continue its firmware upgrades in the future, clearly the Ledger will never fully abandon the Nano S.

    Hardware Design: 3.5/5
    Ease of Use: 4/5

    Why Use a Hardware Wallet

    With traditional currencies, you, the user, are the most important person. If you have ever lost your bank card, you can always go to the bank with some sort of identification and request for access back to your account.

    Cryptocurrencies, however, don’t care about the physical person but rather the private key associated with the wallet. You use the private key to verify the account and transactions. Anyone with access to the key can send funds, so you must keep it safe. Additionally, you cannot reverse cryptocurrency transactions.

    Hardware wallets can protect you against these things. They add an extra layer of security by storing the private key on the device itself. The only way to hack it would be to have physical access to the hardware wallet or the backup phrase.

    Ledger Nano S Worth it in 2023?

    In short, the answer is: not really. Ledger has retired the Nano S and even the Ledger S Final Edition. Both are no longer available for sale on the official site. This means that the only places where you’ll be able to buy them are 3rd party sellers or second hand. We highly advise against both options because someone might have tampered with the device.

    Mind you, Ledger will continue to support the Nano S’s firmware so it stays up-to-date. If you were lucky enough to buy the Nano S while it was still available, it is still worth using. Unless, you want the upgraded DeFi and NFT features. If not, your only choice is to get a Nano S Plus. Although this costs an extra 20USD, they did add upgrades to make it worth your while.

    The Ledger Nano S Plus retails for USD$79.

    CLICK HERE TO BUY!

    Learn how to properly setup your Ledger Nano S with our guide.

    Product Specifications (Technical Specifications)

    Ledger Nano S Product Specifications:

    Processors ST31H320 (secure) + STM32F042.
    Compatibility 64-bits desktop computer (Windows 8+, macOS 10.8+, Linux) excluding ARM Processors. Also compatible with smartphones (iOS 9+ or Android 7+) via OTG cable.
    Connector USB micro-B
    Security Certification CC EAL5+
    Size Size: 56.95mm x 17.4mm x 9.1mm
    Weight: 16.2g
    Supported Assets 1100+ Supported assets
  • Live Planet VR Review: Camera from the Future?

    Live Planet VR Review: Camera from the Future?

    LivePlanet VR Review

    Live Planet VR is a camera from the future – it records using 16 individual lenses for a full Virtual Reality experience. It’s an all-in-one camera solution that directly records 360° stereoscopic Virtual Reality video. The device itself looks crazy – it has 16 cameras directly on the rig, it almost feels excessive. What’s special about the device is that the video directly records to a stereoscopic VR video file that’s ready to upload – without the need to manually “stitch” the files together. This is a huge contrast to other 360° camera systems such as the insta360 one that requires lengthy post-rendering to create usable files. In this review we’ll look at the functionality, quality and publishing platform LivePlanet.

    VR Camera Review

    Live Planet VR camera closeup

    The VR camera consists of the main camera module (housing 16 cameras) and external battery. The camera directly records to the desired 360° view or to 180° with selectable angle. Video recorded is stereoscopic – separate video data corresponding two what our 2 eyes would see. Having stereoscopic video is what makes Live Planet VR different other systems, as only this type of video will give a true VR experience.

    Camera Setup

    The VR camera can be directly mounted onto tripods via the 1/4″ screw on the bottom of the device. The external battery (Juicebox V-Mount Battery) can be mounted using a V-clamp which comes with the set. Whilst I found having an external battery to be quite a hassle (especially if you really need to capture something fast!), this type of setup is standard in professional filmography. Access to the camera is over wifi on a smartphone with the LivePlanet VR app. The app has a live preview of the two angles the camera sees along with recording settings (4K or 6K video, video profile).

    As control of the camera relies heavily on the smartphone, we found that some occasional connection issues that caused minor nuisance when recording. Sometimes the app doesn’t find the camera even after connection to the camera’s wifi-hotspot. We found that manually disconnecting the phone’s mobile data connection improves connection reliability.

    USB - OTG is needed for external audio input. There is no on-board audio
    USB – OTG is needed for external audio input. There is no on-board audio

    Audio needs to be connected separately via USB type-A connection. This is the weakest part of the system. I was recommended a Zoom H5 over an USB connection, adapted with an USB OTG cable. (https://theownerbuildernetwork.co/)

    Setup: 3.5/5

    Camera Quality

    Camera performs well in well-lit conditions, such as outdoors filming or in brightly lit studios. This makes sense as the 16 on-board cameras are a-kin to camera modules found on most smartphones. The onboard computer makes reasonable determinations of the lighting condition – with light, medium and dark options for exposure. Color temperature can be manually adjusted (which is great for filming long events). In terms of quality, we found the 4K video to be soft in some situations, with occasional video artefacts.

    Low-light is when the camera starts showing weaknesses. Images start getting soft and grainy.

    Camera Quality: 4.5/5

    Live Planet Video Platform

    LivePlant VR Studio Dashboard
    LivePlant VR Studio Dashboard

    LivePlanet VR offers direct VR publishing and viewing, fully catering to the camera’s capabilities. Camera content can be uploaded directly from the camera and even streamed lived for major events. We found that upload times are reasonable and equivalent to other major content platforms like YouTube.

    Live Planet offers both VR viewing (via the app) or browser based mono-scopic videos. We found this to be a huge plus as many of our viewers don’t have VR headsets. One problem we found was that the playback quality can be choppy at times, depending on where the video is viewed from. This could improve with time.

    Publishing Platform: 4/5

    Verdict: Huge leaps for VR video creation

    Live Planet VR camera marks a huge leap for VR content creation. It allows for the easy creation of stereoscopic VR, sometime that is normally hard to access. Publishing is streamlined with the Live Planet VR platform.

    We found that sometimes the video quality could be soft and lacking in sharpness, especially in low light scenarios. The lack of 3.5mm or XLR inputs makes audio on this camera hard to setup. We found the USB OTC dongle + Zoom H5 combo the longest to setup (especially if the cable connection isn’t stable).

    Review Score: 4 /5

    Reviewed by Michael Gu

    Links:

    Boxmining Live Planet Channel: https://liveplanet.live/shared/channel/25408/home

    DP Review: https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/review-live-planet-vr-live-streaming-system

  • Boogle Review: Blockchain Blunder or Genius Search Engine?

    Boogle Review: Blockchain Blunder or Genius Search Engine?

    Boogle is a blockchain powered search engine that plays a cheeky tongue-in-cheek to it’s primary competitor, “Google”. The name Boogle is a combination of the words “Blockchain” and “Google“. Currently the search engine is focused on Asian markets as the company is established in Singapore.

    The Singapore based company, Boogle Group Limited is adding security and privacy by default to all searches. This is a direct response to Google’s failure to address privacy issues, where data breaches in the past has lead to broken consumer confidence. The search engine is also making a firm stance on net neutrality – preventing big companies from monopolizing search results. In addition, users are rewarded for using searching via the Boogle Token ($BOO).

    Will Blockchain improve search results?

    “Boogle seeks to create a search engine built on a decentralized platform like blockchain which is secure, network-neutral and free from monopoly by any Internet organization”

    Patrick Lee, CEO of Boogle

    The key selling point of Boogle is that it uses blockchain technology to improve search results and reward users on the platform. Users can sign up to the platform by generating a private key (giving complete access to their account and funds). Users are then rewarded with BOO tokens, a valuable cryptocurrency as a reward for using the service.

    Boogle Account creation Process
    Boogle Account creation process

    Reward for simply searching?

    We tried out the Boogle rewards program and during our one week of usage, we were rewarded 0.82 BOO (roughtly $0.064 USD, as of 24th October 2019). Admittedly this isn’t a huge reward. We’ll observe the platform over time as the search engine matures and gains advertisers (a key part of their revenue model).

    Boogle BOO Earnings
    Boogle’s BOO token reward system

    Can Boogle win over an over-crowded Space

    Internet search is a trillion dollar business, with major competitors like Google, Baidu, Bing and Duck Duck Go. In recent years, Microsoft has also employed an incentive drive promotion strategy via “Bing / Microsoft Rewards” with a luke warm reception. In order to succeed in the search industry, Boogle must be able to prove that it can deliver the results that people want.

    Can Boogle deliver Results?

    Will you sacrifice Better results for blockchain Rewards?

    Benson Chan, Author

    Doing a full scientific study of search engine results is difficult, as the search behavior of each user is different. We asked our contributors to do their daily search on both Google and Boogle and tabulated the results over a week. Here are our findings:

    BoogleGoogle
    Relevant Material Found84%96%
    Boogle Search
    Surprisingly searching “Boogle” gave some interesting results

    We found that Boogle only gave a 84% successful search result over our 1 week test, whilst Google scored higher at 96%. This means Google is still king for research and search relevancy. We’ll be interested to see how this compares over time as Boogle gains more search data and user behavior.

    Verdict

    Boogle Review Score: 3.8/5

    We give Boogle a 3.8/5 as our final rating for the search engine platform. We like the privacy options and VPN feature, this greatly improves user privacy by removing tracking. The idea of giving a cryptocurrency to reward active users to be novel, but the amount given isn’t substantial. We hope search relevance improves over time as the platform garners more users.

  • FIX Ledger Nano Compatibility problems with latest Windows 10 1903

    FIX Ledger Nano Compatibility problems with latest Windows 10 1903

    Update: Official Ledger response to this issue.

    The new Windows 10 May 2019 update adds new security features that break certain browser (Chrome, Brave and Edge) based dapps for Ledger Nano S (and Nano X). This is the latest “big” update that is part of Microsoft’s plan to add additional functionality and security to Windows 10. Currently the update has already been scheduled for public release, although it is not mandatory. A new pop-up will display when connecting to the hardware wallet labeled “Windows Security“.

    New Windows Security Prompt to interact with Ledger Nano S

    This prompt is not present in previous versions of Windows 10 and is a new feature that is meant to prove hardware security. Unfortunately some websites like MyEtherWallet, MyCrypto and IDEX will have certain delay issues when unlocking the wallet.

    Unlock Device error: UNKNOWN_ERROR (0x6804)

    Fixing Ledger Nano issues on Windows 10 1903 Update:

    To fix comparability issues between Ledger Nano (S or X) and Windows 10, try the following:

    • Install Latest Ledger Live
    • Update to the Latest Ledger Nano Firmware
    • Do not click or interact with the pop-window.

    This is not an issue with hardware wallet itself but rather an interaction issue with various websites. These websites need to be updated to reflect changes with hardware security in Windows 10. As of now, there are no known methods to disable new security features in Windows 10. Please refer to the official response from Ledger on this compatibility issue.

    Ledger Live is Unaffected

    Ledger Live App’s operation is not affected by the new security changes. Currently asset management and Leger Manager operations are fully functional as of this update. It seems that the new security changes only affect the web based applications.