Ledger.com/start is the official gateway for initializing Ledger hardware wallets like the Nano S Plus and Nano X. This setup interface ensures users are routed to verified downloads of Ledger Live—the desktop or mobile application used to manage crypto assets securely. Once the device is connected via USB or Bluetooth, Ledger Live handles secure firmware validation through ECDSA signature checks, followed by device initialization. During this process, the secure element (SE) inside the hardware wallet generates a BIP39-compliant seed phrase using an onboard true random number generator (TRNG), ensuring private keys are never exposed to internet-connected devices.
Post-setup, Ledger Live allows users to install individual blockchain apps to the device, which are isolated microcontainers responsible for transaction signing using specific protocol rules (e.g., BIP44 for Bitcoin, EIP-155 for Ethereum). All cryptographic operations occur strictly within the secure element, with signed transactions passed to Ledger Live for broadcasting—never the private keys themselves. This zero-trust design model, combined with transport encryption, firmware attestation, and 2FA options, makes Ledger.com/start a foundational component in establishing a hardened cold wallet environment for safeguarding digital assets.