Lace
Input Output (IOG)
Lace is the official wallet developed by Input Output Global (IOG), the team behind Cardano, available as a desktop browser extension (Chrome, Brave, Firefox) and as iOS and Android apps. It is non-custodial self-custody: keys stay with the user, protected by a recovery phrase. Born for Cardano, Lace is now multi-chain — on mobile it handles Cardano and Bitcoin, while on desktop it pairs Cardano with Midnight, IOG's data-privacy-focused sidechain. Beyond sending and receiving assets, Lace enables Cardano staking through delegation to stake pools, NFT management and access to the ecosystem's DApps and DeFi services. The code is published on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 licence. It is compatible with Ledger and Trezor hardware wallets for Cardano. No account is required to use it: any email is only optionally used for the newsletter.
Data & conditions
| Fund custody | Self-custody (funds in your control) |
|---|---|
| Type | Software (hot wallet) |
| Source code | Open-source |
| Recovery | Frase di recupero a 24 parole (BIP-39) |
| Bitcoin-only | No |
| Supported chains | Cardano, Bitcoin |
| Built-in swap | No |
| Built-in staking | Yes |
| dApp browser | Yes |
| WalletConnect | Yes |
| Hardware wallet support | Yes |
| Segment | B2C |
| MiCA / License status | Nessuna (wallet self-custody non-custodial) |
Strengths
- IOG's official wallet for Cardano, with built-in staking (stake-pool delegation); multi-chain (Cardano + Bitcoin on mobile, Cardano + Midnight on desktop); open-source (Apache 2.0); compatible with Ledger and Trezor.
- Self-custody: funds stay in your wallet — the platform cannot touch them.
- No KYC: usable without identity verification.
- Open-source, verifiable code.
Weaknesses
- Ecosystem heavily centred on Cardano/IOG: less suited to those seeking a general-purpose EVM wallet; Bitcoin and Midnight support varies between desktop and mobile; advanced features tied to a single community.
- No notable sovereignty drawback documented.
Verdict
Score 4.0/5, solid profile. In its favour: iOG's official wallet for Cardano, with built-in staking (stake-pool delegation); multi-chain (Cardano + Bitcoin on mobile, Cardano + Midnight on desktop); open-source (Apache 2.0); compatible with Ledger and Trezor. The trade-off to weigh: ecosystem heavily centred on Cardano/IOG: less suited to those seeking a general-purpose EVM wallet; Bitcoin and Midnight support varies between desktop and mobile; advanced features tied to a single community.
On the Sovereignty lens the score is 4.6/5 (outstanding): the strength is fund control (5.0/5), while censorship resistance (4.0/5) is the weak link.
Promp's editorial rating based on real fees and net annual cost. Promp reviews third-party products independently.
"Sovereignty" rating: score computed on privacy/anonymity (30%), fund control (20%), censorship resistance (20%), trustless/auditability (20%) and costs (10%). Same data, different weights.
FAQ
Who developed Lace?
Lace is developed by Input Output Global (IOG), the company behind the Cardano blockchain and the Midnight network. It is the official reference wallet for the Cardano ecosystem.
Which blockchains does Lace handle?
Lace was born for Cardano and is now multi-chain: on mobile (iOS and Android) it handles Cardano and Bitcoin, while on the desktop extension it pairs Cardano with Midnight. It also enables Cardano staking through delegation to stake pools.
Is Lace custodial and open-source?
Lace is non-custodial: private keys stay on your device, protected by the recovery phrase, and it is compatible with Ledger and Trezor hardware wallets for Cardano. The code is published on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 licence. No account is required to use it.
Sources
- Official service page Piattaforme · Cardano · Bitcoin · Midnight · +2 Data verified on Aug 3, 2026
- github.com Sovranita.open source · Licenza apache 2.0 · Blockchain Data verified on Aug 3, 2026