MediaMarktSaturn Pulls Ledger Wallets After Tampering Reports Spread to Europe

European electronics retailer MediaMarktSaturn has removed all Ledger hardware wallet products from its stores and online platforms after reports surfaced that devices sold through the chain may have been tampered with. A company spokesperson confirmed the move to Cointelegraph on Tuesday, stating that the group "has removed all of the manufacturer's products from its stores and online platforms and is in contact with the manufacturer." The spokesperson added that MediaMarktSaturn "takes this incident very seriously."

The European action follows an ongoing investigation by Ledger into hardware wallet tampering that initially surfaced through Southeast Asian reseller CryptoBilis. An X user identified as Johannes reported on Monday that he purchased two Ledger wallets from separate MediaMarkt locations and found both contained unauthorized cables and cellular modules. Ledger confirmed on Tuesday that the implants were capable of transmitting users' recovery phrases over cellular networks and said it was now investigating tampering reports beyond CryptoBilis.

Separately, former Mt. Gox CEO Mark Karpelès said Tuesday that a Ledger Flex device purchased at Singapore's airport contained a spy implant, though Ledger declined to directly address that case and instead directed users to its latest CryptoBilis investigation update. Cointelegraph reached out to Ledger for confirmation of any tampered devices in Europe but had not received a response by publication time. Losses from the broader tampering campaign could exceed $86 million, according to Ledger's prior disclosures.

The incident highlights growing risks for consumers who rely on hardware wallets for self-custody of digital assets. With reports now emerging across multiple continents, both retailers and manufacturers face pressure to overhaul supply chain verification processes to prevent compromised devices from reaching customers.