Ledger is developing a new device called Atom that will support popular applications such as WhatsApp and Instagram while allowing users to switch between standard smartphone features and a secure environment for managing digital assets.
The cryptocurrency hardware wallet manufacturer announced plans for a device designed to function more like a conventional smartphone than its existing range of specialized wallets.
Scheduled to launch in mid-2027, the Ledger Atom represents a shift away from the industry’s traditional approach of using compact, dedicated devices designed primarily to protect crypto holdings and remain stored away when not in use.
The Atom will run on Android, enabling users to download everyday apps, including WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok. It will also allow them to move between regular smartphone use and a protected mode for handling digital assets. The device will additionally integrate with OpenClaw, an AI assistant.
Ledger plans to manufacture the Atom at its facility in Vietnam, following the approach it uses for its more sophisticated hardware products.
The announcement comes as Ledger faces scrutiny following a supply-chain security incident involving Malaysian distributor CryptoBilis. Attackers reportedly modified devices before they reached customers. Onchain researchers estimated that the incident could be linked to losses of as much as $93.2 million across more than 300 wallets. Tether also froze $10 million in USDT, its dollar-pegged stablecoin, associated with the theft.
The compromised devices allegedly contained concealed chips capable of capturing users’ 24-word recovery phrases. These sequences of words are intended to remain known only to wallet owners and serve as a critical means of restoring access to their digital assets. The hidden components reportedly obtained the phrases by reading signals emitted from device screens.
The incident primarily affected users in Southeast Asia. Ledger cited research on Wednesday indicating that no fund losses had been reported in Europe.
A Ledger spokesperson told CoinDesk by email that the Atom would feature additional security measures designed to defend against similar attacks. These protections include a reinforced enclosure surrounding sensitive internal components, sensors capable of detecting attempts to remove the screen or rear cover, and packaging designed to show evidence of tampering.
The device’s tamper-detection system will also have a dedicated battery, allowing the monitoring mechanism to remain operational even when the smartphone is powered off.
According to the spokesperson, the device’s Core protection enclosure is specifically designed to prevent screen-reading implants of the type reportedly used in the recent incident.
Ledger intends to sell the Atom initially through its official website, avoiding third-party retailers. The company expects this direct-sales approach to reduce exposure to distribution channels similar to those implicated in the CryptoBilis breach.
The company also confirmed that it does not currently plan to offer trade-in programs for customers affected by the incident. However, Ledger has not ruled out introducing promotional offers for future device upgrades.
Combining smartphone capabilities with hardware-based cryptocurrency security is not an entirely new concept. Solana launched its Saga smartphone in 2023 and later introduced its successor, Seeker, the following year. Both devices incorporated hardware-level safeguards for private keys.
Ledger is taking the reverse approach. Rather than adding crypto security features to a smartphone, the company is building on its established hardware wallet technology and expanding it into a device intended for everyday mobile use.
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