Overview

What is Ledger Wallet for developers?

Ledger Wallet (formerly Ledger Live) provides a secure runtime and developer platform to build Live Apps, plugins and integrations that interact with users' Ledger signers (hardware wallets). The Developer Portal centralizes SDKs, API docs, release notes and submission processes for apps and services.

Presentation objectives

• Introduce the Ledger Developer ecosystem.
• Show how to use the Wallet API and Exchange SDK.
• Explain testing, submission and support channels.

Requirements

Tools & environment

• Node.js and npm — for running the Wallet API client and local dev servers.
• Ledger device (Nano family or Flex/Stax) — for on-device testing.
• A Ledger developer account where required for submitting apps.

Security mindset

When building for Ledger devices, follow secure design: never request a user's recovery phrase, validate transactions client-side, and sign only what the user explicitly approves on their device.

Wallet API & SDK

What the Wallet API does

The Wallet API Client enables Live Apps and integrators to communicate with Ledger Wallet and devices, handle accounts, and request signature flows in a secure, user-approved manner.

Developer tips

• Use the provided client libraries to abstract transport layers.
• Observe versioning — Ledger updates client packages and native modules regularly.
• Prefer the official Exchange SDK when integrating swaps/exchanges to ensure compatibility.

Code snippet — initialize Wallet API client

// Example: initialize a wallet api client (pseudo)
import WalletApiClient from '@ledgerhq/wallet-api-client';

const client = new WalletApiClient({ origin: window.location.origin });
await client.connect();
const accounts = await client.getAccounts();

Building a Live App

App types

• Discover Live Apps: apps visible in Ledger Wallet's Discover section.
• Integration services: exchanges, staking providers and portfolio services that integrate via APIs/SDKs.

Step-by-step

1. Read the Developer Portal's getting-started guide for device app/submission rules.
2. Use official SDKs and libraries from Ledger GitHub.
3. Test extensively with physical devices and in sandbox environments.
4. Prepare submission documentation (installation, setup, troubleshooting, supported assets).

Testing & Submission

Deliverables & QA

Submissions typically require readable documentation, install/setup instructions, test vectors, and clearly stated supported cryptocurrencies. The Developer Portal lists specific deliverables for the submission process.

Security review

Ledger reviews apps for security, correct use of signing flows, and UX issues that could confuse users into making unsafe choices.

10 Official Links