Huo Xing Finance reports that on October 13, former Mt. Gox CEO Mark Karpelès publicly confirmed that a Ledger Flex device purchased at Singapore’s Changi Airport from Metapod had been implanted with a spy module. The device was acquired this summer by user Ben Yorke and had never been used; after noticing suspicious scratches on the casing, it was sent for disassembly. Karpelès released photos and videos showing an additional circuit board and wiring hidden beneath the device—representing a newer version of the implant designed to steal seed phrases by monitoring screen communications during user setup. Previously, Ledger devices distributed through the Malaysian dealer CryptoBilis were found to be compromised, resulting in over $86 million in stolen assets. This airport-channel case further indicates the issue is not isolated. The community has since discovered similar tampering in devices purchased from official European distributors and in the Philippines. The implants have evolved from early hand-soldered modifications to more concealed, mass-produced circuit boards.
Ledger Flex purchased at Singapore Airport found with spy module; hardware wallet supply chain risks increase
MarsBitShare
Summary
On-chain news broke on October 13, 2026, when former Mt. Gox CEO Mark Karpelès revealed that a Ledger Flex purchased at Singapore’s Metapod Airport contained a spy module. User Ben Yorke, who had never used the device, noticed suspicious scratches and sent it for inspection. Karpelès shared evidence of an additional circuit board capable of stealing seed phrases. This follows earlier Ledger tampering incidents in Malaysia, which resulted in $86 million in losses. Crypto news reports indicate similar implants have been found in Europe and the Philippines, with mass-produced versions now emerging. The issue is no longer isolated.
Source:Show original
Disclaimer: The information on this page may have been obtained from third parties and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of KuCoin. This content is provided for general informational purposes only, without any representation or warranty of any kind, nor shall it be construed as financial or investment advice. KuCoin shall not be liable for any errors or omissions, or for any outcomes resulting from the use of this information.
Investments in digital assets can be risky. Please carefully evaluate the risks of a product and your risk tolerance based on your own financial circumstances. For more information, please refer to our Terms of Use and Risk Disclosure.