Ledger CTO Warns of Supply Chain Attack Risk

Ledger CTO Charles Guillemet revealed a substantial supply chain attack on September 9, targeting popular JavaScript/NPM packages to alter cryptocurrency addresses and potentially steal funds.

This highlights significant risks to the cryptocurrency ecosystem, particularly for software wallet users, urging a shift towards verified transaction practices with hardware wallets to prevent financial loss.

Ledger CTO Reports Major NPM Compromise

On September 9th, Ledger’s CTO Charles Guillemet reported a large-scale supply chain attack affecting the JavaScript/NPM ecosystem. The attack involved a compromised NPM account of a well-known developer, raising concerns of widespread crypto security risks. By altering cryptocurrency addresses, these security threats escalate.

Guillemet emphasized the safety of using hardware wallets. Such wallets require users to verify transaction signatures, limiting the risk of illicit fund transfers. Users relying on software wallets face a heightened risk of mnemonic phrase exposure, underscoring the need for immediate vigilance and response.

“A large-scale supply chain attack is currently taking place: a well-known developer’s NPM account has been compromised. The affected package has been downloaded over 1 billion times, meaning the entire JavaScript ecosystem may be at risk. The malicious code works by silently altering a cryptocurrency address in the background to steal funds. If you use a hardware wallet, please carefully verify each transaction signature, and you are safe. … If you do not use a hardware wallet, please refrain from making any on-chain transactions for now.” — Charles Guillemet, Chief Technology Officer, Ledger

Historical Attacks Highlight Urgent Need for Security

Did you know? Similar supply chain attacks have led to significant cryptocurrency thefts, highlighting the need for robust security measures and vigilant transactions, especially for millions using non-hardware wallets globally.

Ethereum (ETH) currently trades at $4,297.04, showing a steady performance with a 24-hour volume of $32.99 billion, reflecting a market cap of $518.67 billion, as of September 8, 2025. While price volatility remains negligible over recent days, Ethereum witnessed a significant rise of 52.07% over 60 days.

Insights from the Coincu research team highlight the importance of robust technological frameworks to counteract such risks, leveraging historical trends as a cautionary tale. Experts emphasize the strategic implementation of enhanced security protocols to sustain crypto stakeholders in an increasingly complex digital monetary landscape.