Ledger just made DeFi a whole lot easier — and a lot safer.

The self-custody giant has introduced stablecoin yields within its Ledger Live app, allowing users to earn up to 9.9% APY on USDT, USDC, DAI, and USDS.

All of it happens without ever giving up control of your assets. Your private keys stay locked in your Ledger hardware wallet — no browser extensions, no CEX custody, no compromises.

How It The Yield Works

The feature is powered by Kiln Finance, a backend DeFi provider that routes funds to top protocols like Aave, Morpho, Compound, Spark, and Sky.

Users simply connect their Ledger, navigate to the “Earn” tab in Ledger Live, choose a stablecoin and yield source, and sign the transaction from their device.

There are no lockups. No KYC. No moving funds to external apps or trusting unverified dApps.

It’s one of the cleanest self-custodial DeFi flows we’ve seen — and for once, passive income in crypto doesn’t come with a huge asterisk.

The Yields Are Real — and Competitive

Stablecoin rates range from 5% to 9.9% APY, depending on the protocol and token.

That surpasses most centralized exchanges, where stablecoin rates have remained flat at 2–5% for months.

The rates are dynamic — they move with supply and demand in lending markets — but the range shows a serious opportunity for users willing to step off the sidelines.

And it’s not limited to DeFi-native tokens. Users can choose from trusted assets like:

• USDC (Circle’s regulated dollar token)
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• USDT (the most liquid stablecoin in crypto)
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• DAI (MakerDAO’s decentralized alternative)
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• USDS (a newer, transparency-first entrant)
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It’s flexible, open, and finally accessible without requiring a DeFi power user.

Why This Changes The Game

Ledger’s move hits at three of DeFi’s most significant problems — complexity, custody, and risk.

Previously, earning on-chain yields required juggling wallets, dApps, bridges, and browser plugins.

Ledger strips it down to a few taps, while keeping users fully in control. No custodial risk. No sketchy middle layers.

And that’s huge, because only around 4% of stablecoin holders currently earn any yield. This is how that number grows.

But It’s Still DeFi — So Stay Sharp

The risks haven’t vanished.

Smart contracts can still break. Protocols can still be exploited.

Yields fluctuate. Stablecoins can depeg, even if they’re blue-chip.

Ledger and Kiln offer a streamlined experience, but users still need to understand that yield isn’t free money — it comes with tradeoffs.

Start small. Read the docs. Stay aware.

Kiln Is Quietly Powering a Lot of This

Kiln manages over $11 billion in assets and already supports a vast chunk of Ethereum and Solana staking infrastructure.

Now it’s turning its backend tools into simple interfaces for real users, helping close the gap between institutional-grade DeFi and the retail experience.

With integrations like Ledger Live, Kiln is betting that security and simplicity will define the next wave of adoption.

Self-Custody Just Got a Yield Button

Ledger’s new yield feature is a quiet milestone.

It brings real, non-custodial DeFi yields to a mainstream audience, without the mess of MetaMask, bridge anxiety, or new wallet friction.

For users sitting on idle stablecoins, this might be the most accessible passive income option in crypto right now.

And it’s one more step in turning DeFi from a playground into a toolset.