According to TheRegister.com, blockchain security firm Ledger has confirmed that customer information was accessed in a breach at its e-commerce payment partner, Global-e. The incident, which Ledger was informed about by Global-e, exposed basic personal information like names and contact data, along with order details including products and prices for an unconfirmed number of customers. Global-e began notifying affected Ledger customers via email on January 5, 2026, stating that no financial data, passwords, or the critical 24-word Ledger recovery phrases were impacted. However, phishing attacks impersonating brands like “E-Global” have already begun, trying to trick users with fake security update links. Ledger is warning that it was not the only brand affected, as the unauthorized party accessed a Global-e cloud system containing shopper data from several brands, and customers should be suspicious of any unsolicited communications or unexpected physical devices arriving at their door.
The Partner Problem
Here’s the thing about security: it’s only as strong as your weakest link. Ledger sells hardware wallets, devices literally designed to be a fortress for your crypto private keys. But to buy that fortress, you have to go through a front door—their e-commerce checkout. That’s where Global-e comes in, handling currency conversion and payments. So while your crypto seeds are safe in cold storage, your name, address, and what you bought is now in the wild because of a third-party vendor. It’s a classic supply-chain attack, just for data. And it raises a huge question: how much vetting do these hardware security companies do on their own commercial partners? Your crypto might be unhackable, but your inbox is now a phishing playground.
Phishing Season Is Open
The scary part is how fast the criminals moved. The article notes that scam hunters like NanoBaiter already found phishing emails in the wild, pretending to be from “Katie at E-Global” and targeting “Ledger User.” This isn’t some sophisticated hack. It’s low-effort, high-reward spam that preys on the anxiety of anyone who just got a breach notification. Ledger’s advice is solid—they’ll never ask for your recovery phrase, send unsolicited devices, or ask you to scan random QR codes. But in the panic of getting a “your data was breached” email, how many people will let their guard down? The real risk here isn’t a direct theft from Ledger devices. It’s the long con: building trust through legitimate-looking order info to eventually trick someone into giving up the keys to the kingdom.
Who Else Is Affected?
This might be the bigger story. Ledger straight up said it “was not the only brand whose customer data was affected.” Global-e’s client list is a who’s who of luxury and retail—Burberry, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, Adidas, even Netflix and Disney. Now, think about that. A breach at a payment processor for high-end fashion could expose not just names and addresses, but order values, sizes, and shipping details. That’s a goldmine for targeted phishing (“Your recent Burberry trench coat order has a shipping issue…”). Global-e’s statement was vague, saying the attack pertained to “one or more brands you have purchased on their web-store recently.” So if you’ve bought from any major brand using their platform, you should probably be on high alert. It’s a sprawling mess.
The Hardware Trust Paradox
Ledger’s entire business is built on trust. You trust their chip, their software, their secure element. But incidents like this chip away at that foundation in a different way. It reminds customers that the company isn’t just a sleek security gadget maker; it’s also a retailer with a supply chain, marketing databases, and support channels. Every one of those touchpoints is a potential vulnerability. For a company that had a major data leak back in 2020, this repeat issue with a partner is a bad look. It forces you to wonder: if they can’t fully secure the pipeline that sells the device, what does that say about their overall security posture? The funds are safe, as they said. But confidence? That’s another story.
