Ledger Integrates DeFi Stablecoin Yields Into Self-Custody Wallets via Kiln Partnership

Key Insights

• Ledger has partnered with DeFi platform Kiln to enable users to earn 5% to 9.9% yields on stablecoins directly through Ledger Live, maintaining full self-custody.

• The integration simplifies access to DeFi yields, removing the need for insecure web3 wallets and offering a streamlined process with clear signing and a user-friendly interface inside the Ledger app.

PARIS (MarketsXplora) – Cryptocurrency hardware wallet maker Ledger announced a new feature that will allow users to earn stablecoin yields directly from self-custody, in collaboration with decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure platform Kiln.

The integration enables Ledger users to earn annual yields ranging from 5% to 9.9% on stablecoins such as USDC, USDT, USDS, and DAI, through several DeFi lending protocols including Aave, Compound, Morpho, Sky, and Spark. The service will be available natively within Ledger Live, the company’s companion app, eliminating the need to connect to external web3 wallets or multiple decentralized applications.

“Web3 browser wallets are typically insecure,” said Jean-Francois Rochet, Ledger’s Vice President of Consumer Services, in an interview with The Block. “The direct integration offers enhanced security … without leaving the safety of Ledger Live or going through complex processes.”

How to earn interest on USDC with Ledger

Kiln operates the backend infrastructure for the service, streamlining access to cyields through a more user-friendly experience. According to Rochet, users can simply input the amount they wish to deposit, select the desired protocol and its corresponding annual percentage yield (APY) from a dropdown menu, and confirm via Ledger’s “clear signing” process, which ensures human-readable and verifiable transaction content.

While users will benefit from greater convenience and security, Rochet acknowledged that APYs offered through Ledger Live might be slightly lower than those obtained by connecting directly to DeFi protocols.

“Ledger is pioneering security-first yield generation in the DeFi space,” the company said in a statement. “More users than ever are entering crypto, and we’re focused on making digital assets accessible without depending on insecure browser wallets or multiple dApps.”

Ledger highlighted that only about 4% of stablecoin holders currently earn yield on assets such as USDC and USDT. The new integration, it says, unlocks the ability to generate returns while maintaining full autonomy over digital assets — a sharp contrast to centralized exchanges, which often control customer funds and limit yield options.

Initially, support for USDC and USDT will be available, with DAI and USDS integration planned for a later phase. While Rochet confirmed there are intentions to expand the range of supported assets, he said there are no specific additional assets on the roadmap at this time.

The move builds on Ledger’s previous collaborations with Kiln. Last year, the two companies introduced native access to liquid staking token restaking within Ledger Live, allowing users to restake assets on EigenLayer without leaving the app.

“Ledger has been a long-term partner of Kiln, and through our close collaboration, we have developed a deep understanding of the needs of their users,” said Laszlo Szabo, Co-Founder and CEO of Kiln. “Working together on the Kiln DeFi integration for Ledger is an exciting opportunity, and we’re thrilled to help open up access to stablecoin rewards for millions of Ledger users.”

Ledger, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024, claims to secure more than 20% of the world’s crypto assets and has sold over 7.5 million hardware wallets across 210 countries. Kiln, meanwhile, manages more than $11 billion in digital assets, operating about 4.5% of Ethereum’s and 2.6% of Solana’s total staked assets.