From Data Breach to IPO: The Trust Crisis of Hardware Wallet Leaders

robot
Abstract generation in progress

【Ledger】A veteran player in the hardware wallet field has recently become the focus again. Ledger plans to go public in the US, with a valuation possibly exceeding $4 billion. They have been in talks with Goldman Sachs, Jefferies, and Barclays, aiming to complete the IPO as early as this year. It sounds like big news, but many have raised questions about this company’s past.

Security incidents have always been a topic Ledger cannot avoid. In June 2020, this French hardware wallet manufacturer experienced a serious data leak—hackers exploited a third-party API key configuration vulnerability on their website to illegally access e-commerce and marketing databases. The result? Over 1 million email addresses were leaked, with approximately 272,000 records containing full personal information, including real names, mailing addresses, and phone numbers. Once these details fall into the wrong hands, users face targeted scams or theft risks, leading to actual losses of millions of dollars.

In addition to security risks, there are also issues with the products themselves. The battery defect in the Nano X series has been widely criticized, with continuous user feedback. Recently, Ledger announced that they will start charging fees for the Clear Signing feature—this was originally a basic function to protect users. Now, users have to pay to use it, which many find unacceptable. Some industry insiders believe that announcing an IPO in such a context is more like a move to maximize market hype and cash out.

View Original
This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.
  • Reward
  • 7
  • Repost
  • Share
Comment
0/400
GasFeeCryingvip
· 01-23 09:23
4 billion valuation? Still want to go public? First, get back the over 1 million leaked data entries, bro.
View OriginalReply0
MEVHuntervip
· 01-23 09:22
ngl ledger going ipo while sitting on a 2020 databreach lawsuit is peak "move fast break trust" energy... 40b valuation on what exactly? the api key fumble that leaked 1M+ emails? cmon
Reply0
GasFeeTherapistvip
· 01-23 09:21
1 million email leaks, still daring to IPO? The foundation of trust is so fragile.
View OriginalReply0
OnchainGossipervip
· 01-23 09:18
$4 billion valuation? That's laughable. You can't even protect data for a million users, and you still want to go public?
View OriginalReply0
LiquidatedAgainvip
· 01-23 09:18
Once again, Ledger has cut a wave of retail investors. When my 1 million email addresses were leaked, I should have cleared my holdings. Now they still dare to go public? Isn't this like slapping me in the face? A company with such low risk control thresholds can also go public. I think the prospects for the US stock market are not very promising anymore.
View OriginalReply0
ContractTearjerkervip
· 01-23 09:11
Still trying to shift blame before going public? Ledger's move is truly clever; over 1 million user information leaks just like that, and it's all swept under the rug.
View OriginalReply0
VitalikFanboy42vip
· 01-23 09:07
4 billion valuation? Laughable. Leaking the information of 1 million users and still having the nerve to go public—are they treating investors like fools?
View OriginalReply0
  • Pin

Trade Crypto Anywhere Anytime
qrCode
Scan to download Gate App
Community
  • 简体中文
  • English
  • Tiếng Việt
  • 繁體中文
  • Español
  • Русский
  • Français (Afrique)
  • Português (Portugal)
  • Bahasa Indonesia
  • 日本語
  • بالعربية
  • Українська
  • Português (Brasil)