TECHNOLOGY · FOCUS
Ledger investigates a hardware implant in a wallet sold by a reseller
Ledger has confirmed the presence of an unauthorized hardware implant in the device of a user affected by cryptocurrency thefts. According to The Verge, the company asked reseller CryptoBillis to suspend sales. The extent of the attack and the implant's alleged operation remain to be established.
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In an article published on October 10, The Verge reports cryptocurrency thefts that appear to be linked to modified Ledger wallets sold by CryptoBillis. Ledger has asked the reseller to suspend all sales of its wallets during its investigation. The company confirmed that a device belonging to an affected user contained an unauthorized hardware implant.
Photos and videos shared on X and Threads appear to show a small circuit board placed beneath the screen. According to the alleged mechanism described by The Verge, this implant would intercept the information displayed, including the recovery phrase shown during initial setup, and then transmit it to the attacker using a built-in SIM card. This operation is still presented as a hypothesis, rather than a demonstrated technical conclusion.
The article relays reports of more than 86 million dollars in stolen cryptocurrency. This amount does not constitute a total confirmed by Ledger in this account. The Verge specifies that there is no evidence of a compromise of Ledger's systems or of devices purchased directly from the company being affected.
The hypothesis under examination therefore concerns the distribution chain. If confirmed, it would underscore the importance of the hardware's physical integrity before it is handed over to the user. The scope of affected devices remains to be clarified.