Ledger pulls a "don't try this at home" — halts hardware wallet sales across SEA 🔐

Hardware wallet maker Ledger has asked resellers and distributors across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong to suspend sales and pull its devices from shelves as the company investigates reports of tampered units. In a post on X on Tuesday, Ledger said the request covers sellers in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Hong Kong. "To be clear, as the investigation continues, the only confirmed incidents remain contained to Southeast Asia. We have not verified a drain linked to a device bought elsewhere," the company said.

The wider suspension expands on Ledger's earlier request that reseller CryptoBilis stop sales and shipments. The investigation went public on Oct. 9 after reports of stolen crypto tied to devices purchased through that reseller, and since then users in other regions, including Europe, have reported finding suspected tampering on devices bought from retailers. Ledger said it is working to determine who altered the devices and where in the distribution chain the interference occurred.

The company stressed that its own systems appear unaffected. "We have no indication that Ledger's infrastructure, systems or services or direct sales channel have been compromised," it added. Ledger also said it is coordinating with resellers in the affected regions to remove affected products and assist impacted customers.

The episode comes as competitor Trezor said it is trimming its reseller footprint as a preventative step in light of the Ledger tampering reports, underscoring heightened scrutiny across the hardware wallet industry. Ledger has not provided a timeline for completing its investigation or for when suspended sales in the seven markets may resume.