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Ledger Hardware Wallet Spy Chip Implant

Ledger confirmed that hardware wallets tampered with a hidden spy chip (secret eSIM) enabled crypto thefts reportedly totaling around $92 million, exposing supply-chain security risks in the hardware wallet industry.

Importance: 60%Confidence: 70%Mentions: 1Updated: October 14, 2026Page history (1 revision) →

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Ledger has confirmed that a hidden spy chip (reportedly a secret eSIM) implanted in counterfeit or tampered hardware wallets was behind a wave of crypto thefts, reportedly totaling around $92 million according to crypto.news (Bleeping Computer, October 12; crypto.news, October 12; Heise, October 12). The chip allegedly allowed attackers to exfiltrate private keys or signing data from compromised devices sold to unsuspecting users. The incident raises significant supply-chain security concerns for the hardware wallet industry and crypto custody more broadly, and is likely to prompt scrutiny of distribution channels and anti-tamper measures across the sector.