MediaMarktSaturn pulled Ledger hardware wallets from physical stores and websites worldwide. A hardware wallet is a physical device that stores your digital cash offline. The company called the sudden removal a standard precaution. A spokesperson confirmed the removal covers all international store locations. The firm expects to restock the shelves once the factory confirms the parts are safe.
Ledger announced the pause on Friday morning. The maker said a customer in Germany found a tiny cellular module inside a new device. A cellular module connects the hardware to a mobile network without Wi-Fi. The customer sent the unit back before using it. Ledger reported zero lost funds from that specific case. The company also stated its main servers and software remain untouched.
An X user named Johannes shared a photo of two units he bought at separate MediaMarkt locations last week. He claimed both boxes contained unauthorized cables and extra chips. Ledger said these concerns followed a separate report from a Southeast Asian reseller called CryptoBilis. A reseller buys goods in bulk and sells them to smaller shops. Ledger is now checking that distribution path for similar implants.
The pause does not change how Bitcoin Cash transactions work. A transaction is a digital record that moves value from one address to another. Users still send coins directly between wallets. The network does not need the factory to approve each payment. Fees remain under one cent per transfer on the Bitcoin Cash network.
Shoppers can still buy the devices at third party electronics shops. Buying from a local electronics store reduces the chance of a factory implant. The offline storage keeps your private keys, or digital passwords, safe from online hackers.