Ledger Co-Founder Flag Security Risk In Open Source, Refutes Charles Hoskinson

Varinder Singh
May 20, 2023
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Ledger Co-Founder Flag Security Risk In Open Source, Refutes Charles Hoskinson

Ledger co-founder Eric Larchevêque clarified that there is no “backdoor” in the latest Recover firmware update. The Ledger controversy attracted comments from notable leaders and blockchain experts from the crypto community including Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson who claimed that open-source software is always better than closed-source.

However, Ledger co-founder refutes Charles Hoskinson’s claims and red flags open source due to elevated security risks.

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Ledger CEO Refutes Cardano Founder Charles Hoskinson

On Friday, Cardano founder Charles Hoskison in response to the Ledge controversy said he always choose open-source software whenever possible, saying that “security comes from simplicity.”

“People buy hardware wallets to maximize the personal security of their funds. They don’t buy them for daily use or expect an equivalent user experience to hot wallets.”

Ledger co-founder Eric Larchevêque took to Twitter on May 20 to further clarify security aspects of closed source, open source, and chain of trust in a hardware wallet. Ledger is a hardware wallet with closed-source firmware.

He claims open-source wallets come with regular hardware but less security, while close source with secure elements, allowing higher level of security. A supply chain attack can happen when plugging the hardware to flash the firmware, while “holographic seal” mitigated some risk it’s not efficient to prevent attack at manufacturer level.

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A master key from the manufacturer, implanted in the secure element at the factory level, can cryptographically prove interacting with the real chip. This cannot be used with open source as the master key would obviously be revealed during compilation.

“This means that using an open source HW, you must trust that the manufacturer will not put a backdoor in the electronics, and using a closed source HW you must trust that the manufacturer will not put a backdoor in the firmware.”

He believes security is always a matter of trade-offs and hardware wallets require that trust. Users could do critical mistakes or update hardware with rogue firmware.

Amid the Ledger Recover controversial firmware update, hardware wallet provider such as GridPlus decided to open-source its firmware. But Ledger CEO believes bad actors could gain access to these due to being open-sourced.

Also Read: Chainlink VRF Is Live On Arbitrum One, What It Means For Crypto Industry?

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Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights Read more…to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

About Author
About Author
Varinder has over 10 years of experience and is known as a seasoned leader for his involvement in the fintech sector. With over 5 years dedicated to blockchain, crypto, and Web3 developments, he has experienced two Bitcoin halving events making him key opinion leader in the space. At CoinGape Media, Varinder leads the editorial decisions, spearheading the news team to cover latest updates, markets trends and developments within the crypto industry. The company was recognized as Best Crypto Media Company 2024 for high impact and quality reporting. Being a Master of Technology degree holder, analytics thinker, technology enthusiast, Varinder has shared his knowledge of disruptive technologies in over 5000+ news, articles, and papers.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.