🚀 Introduction
This is usually one of the first questions people ask before buying a hardware wallet. A Ledger looks great from a security standpoint, but if it does not support the assets you actually hold, none of that matters.
The good news is that Ledger supports a very wide range of cryptocurrencies. The part that often confuses people is how that support works and why some assets appear directly in Ledger Live while others do not.
Once you understand that distinction, the whole picture becomes much clearer.
🔑 The Short Answer
Ledger supports thousands of cryptocurrencies and tokens across multiple blockchains.
That includes major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, most Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks, stablecoins, and a massive number of ERC-20, BEP-20, and similar tokens.
Support does not always mean the same thing, though, and that is where most misunderstandings come from.
🧠What “Support” Actually Means in Ledger
A Ledger wallet supports blockchains, not individual coins in the way people often expect.
Ledger stores private keys and signs transactions. As long as a blockchain is supported by Ledger firmware and apps, any token that follows that blockchain’s standards is also supported at the key level.
The difference you see in practice comes down to the interface, not the device.
📱 Ledger Live Supported Assets
Ledger Live natively supports a large list of major cryptocurrencies. These are assets you can fully manage inside the Ledger Live app, including viewing balances, sending and receiving funds, and in some cases staking.
Examples include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, Avalanche, Cosmos, Polkadot, Cardano, and many others, along with popular stablecoins.
When an asset is supported in Ledger Live, it simply means Ledger has built a user interface for it. It does not mean other assets are less secure.
đź”— Tokens on Supported Blockchains
This is where Ledger’s real reach shows up.
If Ledger supports a blockchain like Ethereum, it automatically supports all standard tokens on that network, including ERC-20 tokens, NFTs, and other contract based assets.
The same applies to other ecosystems such as Binance Smart Chain, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, and similar networks.
Even if a token does not appear in Ledger Live, your Ledger still controls the private keys that own it. You just need a compatible wallet interface to view and interact with that token.
🧩 Using Third Party Wallets for More Assets
Many assets are supported by Ledger but not shown directly in Ledger Live. In those cases, users connect their Ledger to third party wallets like MetaMask, Phantom, or other network specific wallets.
The third party wallet provides the interface. The Ledger still signs transactions and keeps private keys offline.
From a security standpoint, there is no downgrade. The Ledger remains the source of truth for ownership.
⚠️ Common Misunderstandings
A very common mistake is assuming that if a token is not visible in Ledger Live, it is not supported by Ledger. In most cases, this is not true.
Another misunderstanding is thinking Ledger “stores” coins. Ledger never stores coins. It stores keys. As long as a blockchain is supported, the assets on that chain are protected by the Ledger.
Support is about compatibility, not custody.
🏦 Is Ledger Enough for a Diverse Portfolio?
For most people, yes.
Ledger supports enough blockchains that the majority of crypto portfolios can be secured with a single device. For users who hold very niche or experimental assets, Ledger often still works through third party interfaces.
For institutions or treasuries holding assets across many chains, Ledger is frequently combined with multisig wallets to add governance and redundancy.
🧠Final Thoughts
Ledger supports far more cryptocurrencies than most people realize. The confusion usually comes from the difference between device level support and app level visibility.
If Ledger can generate keys and sign transactions for a blockchain, it can secure assets on that chain. The interface you use is secondary.
Once you understand that, choosing a hardware wallet becomes much less about checking coin lists and much more about understanding how blockchains actually work.