Ledger’s new Multisig interface has reignited debate over how far crypto companies should go in monetizing security features.

The update introduces a redesigned multi-signature system meant to simplify transactions across wallets – but also comes with new charges that many users see as excessive.

Under the new policy, each transaction will cost $10, while token transfers will carry a 0.05% fee. Those charges are separate from network gas fees, sparking frustration among long-time users who accuse the company of prioritizing profit over principle.

One of the loudest critics, Ethereum developer pcaversaccio, accused Ledger of drifting toward centralization and abandoning its Cypherpunk ethos, claiming the firm is trying to “funnel” the entire crypto ecosystem through its own infrastructure.

Confusion around the rollout didn’t help. CEO Charles Guillemet initially suggested the Multisig feature would be free before later correcting himself, saying the earlier reference was a typo. This clarification did little to calm users already uneasy about recurring fees on a platform marketed as self-sovereign.

Ledger, however, still dominates the hardware wallet market. The company has sold over 7.5 million devices and claims to protect around one-fifth of all digital assets globally. Its hardware has remained free of known breaches – though security experts, including those at Kaspersky, warn that human error continues to be the weakest link, as phishing attacks and fake recovery prompts remain common.

For many, the debate over Ledger’s pricing is about more than just fees. It reflects a growing tension between crypto’s founding ideals of independence and the realities of running a profitable, scalable business in a maturing industry.