How to integrate a hardware wallet with Rabby? (DeFi User Experience)

Connecting Hardware Wallets to Rabby

1. Rabby supports Ledger and Trezor devices through WebUSB and U2F protocols, enabling direct browser-based interaction without third-party extensions.

2. Users must ensure their hardware wallet firmware is updated to the latest version compatible with Ethereum and EVM chains before initiating connection.

3. The Rabby interface displays a “Connect Hardware Wallet” button in the top-right corner of the wallet dashboard, which triggers device detection upon click.

4. For Ledger users, Ethereum or EVM app must be open on the device; for Trezor, users must confirm connection via the device’s physical prompt after selecting “Ethereum” in the Trezor Suite.

5. Once recognized, Rabby imports accounts using BIP-44 derivation paths, listing up to five addresses per device by default unless manually expanded.

Transaction Signing Workflow

1. When interacting with DeFi protocols like Uniswap or Aave, Rabby automatically detects the connected hardware wallet and routes signing requests to it.

2. Each transaction displays gas estimation, network fee breakdown, and contract interaction details in the Rabby popup before forwarding to the device.

3. The hardware wallet requires explicit user confirmation—Ledger displays transaction parameters on its screen, while Trezor shows a compact summary with approval toggle.

4. Rabby does not store private keys or sign transactions locally; all cryptographic operations occur inside the secure element of the hardware device.

5. If a transaction fails due to incorrect chain ID or nonce mismatch, Rabby provides actionable error messages referencing the hardware wallet’s current state and network sync status.

Multi-Network Account Management

1. Rabby allows users to assign different hardware wallet accounts to distinct networks—e.g., one address for Ethereum Mainnet, another for Arbitrum, and a third for Base.

2. Network-specific account labels can be customized within Rabby’s settings, helping users distinguish between DeFi positions across chains without switching devices.

3. When adding custom RPC endpoints, Rabby validates hardware wallet compatibility by querying the device’s supported chain list and rejecting unsupported EIP-155 identifiers.

4. Cross-chain bridge interfaces within Rabby display real-time balance updates from hardware-linked addresses, pulling data directly from on-chain sources rather than cached local values.

5. Disconnecting a hardware wallet does not remove imported accounts from Rabby’s UI but disables signing capability until reconnection and re-authentication.

Security Considerations During Integration

1. Rabby enforces HTTPS-only connections when communicating with hardware wallets, blocking any attempt to initiate WebUSB over insecure HTTP origins.

2. Device permissions are scoped to the current tab and revoked upon tab closure—no background persistence of hardware access occurs.

3. Rabby displays a persistent visual indicator showing active hardware wallet connection status, including device model and firmware version, visible in the wallet header.

4. Firmware downgrade attempts are detected and blocked during handshake; Rabby refuses communication if the device reports a known vulnerable version.

5. Transaction previews include decoded function calls whenever ABI data is available, reducing reliance on raw hex input that could mask malicious intent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does Rabby support Ledger Nano S Plus?Yes, Rabby fully supports Ledger Nano S Plus as of firmware version 2.1.0 and Rabby extension v1.12.0.

Q: Can I use the same hardware wallet with Rabby and MetaMask simultaneously?No, concurrent access is blocked at the OS level—only one browser extension may claim USB interface control at a time.

Q: Why does Rabby show “No accounts found” after connecting my Trezor Model T?This occurs when the Ethereum app is not launched on the device or when the device is locked; unlocking and opening the Ethereum app resolves it immediately.

Q: Is it safe to connect my hardware wallet to Rabby on a public computer?It is unsafe—Rabby does not store keys, but public computers may host keyloggers or malicious browser extensions capable of intercepting transaction previews or phishing prompts.