Under pressure Ledger unveils plan to turn its crypto hardware wallet into a smartphone

From the source

Ledger’s Atom will run apps like WhatsApp and Instragram and let users switch between smartphone functions and a protected mode for managing digital assets. Cryptocurrency hardware wallet maker Ledger said it is developing a new device that looks and functions more like a smartphone than a traditional wallet. The Ledger Atom, scheduled for release in mid-2027, marks a departure from the industry’s emphasis on safeguarding digital assets on minimalist devices meant to be locked away in a drawer or a desk. The Atom runs Android, meaning users will be able to install everyday applications like WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok. Users can switch between ordinary smartphone functionality and a protected mode for managing digital assets. The device also incorporates integration with the AI assistant OpenClaw. The product will be manufactured at Ledger at its location in Vietnam, as is customary with its more complex devices. The Atom announcement comes amid fallout from a supply-chain…

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