I will show you how to use connect Metamaks Web 2.0 wallet with Ledger Hardware wallet for added security. Then I will show you actual Defi Swap with your funds in the Ledger Hardware wallet.

Using hardware wallet such as Ledger Nano is the smartest and most secure way to store the private keys. Private key are proof of crypto assets you own. The Ledger Nano stores your private keys offline and guarantees that no one on the internet can tamper with them. Using a combination of Ledger and MetaMask is considered to be the safest and smoothest way to keep your crypto investments.

Such a combination provides you with a physical 2 Factor Authentication. Meaning that you will need to physically connect your Ledger Nano wallet to your computer to sign and confirm every transaction requested through MetaMask. This makes the hackers’ job quite difficult. This is what makes using the combination of MetaMask and Ledger so secure.

First, get yourself a Ledger hardware wallet to safeguard your private keys. Ledger devices come with a software called Ledger Live (available on mobile & desktop), which is basically the equivalent of the app store to the iphone. Ledger Live providing you with a safe gateway to all your crypto services and downloadable for free directly from Ledger website.

Once in Ledger Live, create your Ethereum account by clicking on ‘accounts’ on the left hand side, then ‘add an Ethereum account’. I have a detailed video of setting up your Ledger Nano Hardware wallet. Link provided above and in description area.

After setting up Ledger Nano wallet, you can turn your Fiat ($,£,€, etc.) into Ethereum (Cryptocurrency) or any other Ethereum Virtual Machine Compatible Chains. For most of you the easiest way to do that will be via Wyre/Coinify on Ledger live. Ledger Nano Hardware wallet you can install Ledger app such as Ethereum, Bitcoin, Cardano, etc as free space permitted you your choice of Ledger device.

Next you will be able to use the Ethereum account you created in Ledger Live on MetaMask from within the security of your Ledger device. Next big question: how do you set up Metamask Web 2.0 wallet for Ledger?

Connecting Ledger Nano to MetaMask
Next, I will show to connect Ledger Nano wallet to Metamask. Let’s connect Ledger to MetaMask. Let’s walk through the steps of how you can connect Ledger to MetaMask, to enjoy seamless transactions while your private keys stay entirely offline away from hackers.

Step 1: Connect your Ledger Nano to your computer device using a USB cable. Also, open your MetaMask wallet in full screen on your browser. You can do this by logging in with the Metamask password you just set up. I cannot stress this too much make sure you are in Ethereum Main chain when attempting to connect your hardware wallet to Metamask.

Step 2: Click on the top-right menu of the MetaMask wallet and then find and click on “Connect Hardware Wallet” in the drop-down menu. You will see options in Metamask wallet for Ledger, Trezor, Lattice, and QR-based hardware wallets.

Step 3: When you click “Continue,” MetaMask will look for a Ledger device connected to the computer. In order to make sure MetaMask discovers your wallet, unlock your Ledger device with pin code. I clicked on Ledger Nano S. Only option awailable for me to pick.

Step 4: Once MetaMask discovers your wallet, it will prompt you to choose a Ledger account that you would want to connect to MetaMask. Choose the one you prefer and finish (or create one from Ledger Live if you have none). I selected all 5 wallets shown in my Ledger Wallet under your backed up ledger mnemonic phrase. All 5 wallet address are controlled by same Mnemonic 24 word phrase. If you ever reset your hardware wallet, you will get a different 24 word Mnemonic phrase. You can anytime restore Ledger Nano with previously backed up 24 word Mnemonic phrase.

Step 5: Some last steps to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Click on the “Ethereum application” on your hardware wallet display then click on “settings” and turn on “blind signing” (please make sure you’re aware of the risks associated with blind signing). Or else it won’t work properly.
Open the MetaMask window, click on the account logo on the top right corner, scroll down to “settings” and click. Then click “advanced settings”, scroll down and turn on “WebHID”.
Tada, This will enable you to view your Ledger wallet balance on your MetaMask extension. You will also be able to transact across all blockchain applications that support MetaMask. The only thing you will need is to connect your Ledger wallet to your device open Ledger Live, verify and sign the transactions.

Step 6: Enjoy your ride: you can now interact with your favorite dApps from within the security of your hardware wallet, by selecting MetaMask on login.

I tried a simple swap on a Defi exchange, I got Metamask error says "I need to enable Blind Signing or Smart Contract Enabled mode or do the Signing in Ethereum Chain". Next, I will explain what is blind signing and show you how to enable Blind Signing.

Enabling blind signing
Blind Signing was formerly called Contract Data. Please note that Contract Data and Blind Signing are the same feature, only the name has changed on Ledger.
Without Enabling Blind signing on Ledger, you cannot sign transactions on other Chains besides Ethereum Main chain.
Here is how to do Enable Blind signing:
Connect and unlock your Ledger device.
Open the Ethereum (ETH) application.
Press the right button to navigate to Settings. Then press both buttons to validate.
Your Ledger device displays Blind Signing.
Press both buttons to enable transaction blind signing.
The device displays Enabled. You're done.

Enabling blind signing is an advanced feature that is only required for signing transactions involving smart contracts (e.g. swapping tokens via a decentralized exchange).
It's recommended to disable blind signing after use for safety reasons.
Please note that blind signing will be automatically disabled after a firmware update or after the Ethereum (ETH) app is updated.
This can happen whenever the app is manually updated via My Ledger in Ledger Live or after a firmware update that requires apps to be reinstalled. You can re-enable blind signing as needed by using the instructions above.

Metamask Swap with Ledger on Non Ethereum Chain (EVM)
I will show you an actual Metamask Swap with Ledger on Non Ethereum Chain. This is the same for Ethereum Chain as well but no need to enable blind signing. I connected to Panicswap. I am going to Swap 0.05 FTM token into BTC with funds in my Ledger Protected Metamask wallet. I selected FTM as from and BTC as to token. I selected 0.05 FTM tokens. I will get 7.1e-7 BTC in return. I Paid gas fees of 0.0005 FTM. Since I temporarly set Ethereum app on Blind Signing for this transaction to complete, I was all Fantom Opera Chain. I click on Swap. Wait for Ledger Manager to approve. It will input every contract parameter to me on the device. I have to review them in single line by line and approve it. I had to approve 7 steps on Ledger by double pressing on device before Ledger Nano signed the transaction my private keys inside the hardware and send it to Metamask wallet. Now as a added precausion, I am going go back to Ethereum app settings and disable blind signing.

Metamask and Ledger Wallet Operations Security
Finally, having Ledger Hardware wallet will not secure your crypto funds if you do not follow this normal crypto Metamask crypto Wallet Operations Security:
Never Give a private key or seed phrase to someone or a site.
Never Give a smart contract unlimited spending allowance on assets.
Never Install a fake MetaMask or other Web3 Extension.
Never install questionable software on machine with crypto. The device has been compromised with malware/spyware, allowing private information stored on it to be stolen. Install latest Anti-virus software and Malware Bytes analysis software with regular updates for virus and malware signatures where your MetaMask or other Web3 wallets are running. Don't use this computer for general surfing!
Never Visit a phishing site that resembles a genuine site or implies that it is official, and providing either access to your wallet via smart contract approvals/token allowances, or by providing your Secret Recovery Phrase and/or private key.
Ledger Live can be highjacked by Malware and change the receiving address, so always verify your receiving address to on their devices’ screen manually by using the “monitor screen” button at the bottom of each transaction request form. Meaning always verify the Ledger Live receiving address to the Ledger Nano Hardware receiving address. Actually follow this for all transactions you do with Ledger Nano. Never blind sign any crypto transactions as well. If you have unlimited spending transactions approved in any wallet, revoke approvals.

Use a platform such as:
Revoke (Ethereum mainnet)
Unrekt (multiple networks)
approved.zone (Ethereum mainnet)
Cointool (multiple networks)
beefy.finance (BSC/BNB Smart Chain)
EverRevoke (multiple networks).

Only assets in Ledger wallets are protect by Ledger Nano. Other Wallets on MetaMask is not protected by Ledger Nano. So, if you want to protect assets, transfer non Ledger wallets into Ledger wallets on MetaMask for security. When are using other chains besides Ethereum, you will always use the Ethereum app on Ledger.

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