Unusual Activity Detected at Ledger's Payment Processor: Global-e Data Exposure Explained

Ledger, the major hardware wallet provider, has disclosed a security incident involving unauthorized access to customer data through its third-party payment processor, Global-e. While monitoring systems at Global-e flagged unusual activity in its cloud infrastructure, the cryptocurrency community is grappling with questions about data protection and transaction security.

The incident came to light after Global-e, which handles e-commerce payments for Ledger and other major brands, detected suspicious access to its systems. The unauthorized activity resulted in exposure of customer personal information stored in Global-e’s cloud systems. Blockchain researcher ZachXBT was among the first to share details of the breach notification sent by Global-e to affected customers.

How Global-e’s Security Monitoring Uncovered the Breach

Global-e’s security team identified the unusual activity and promptly engaged forensic experts to investigate the extent of the compromise. According to the company’s official communication, the investigation confirmed that improper access had occurred to certain customer data within its information systems. The payment processor stated it “retained independent forensic experts to conduct an investigation into the incident and we were able to determine that some personal data including name and contact information were improperly accessed.”

The discovery process involved rigorous monitoring protocols that flagged the anomalous behavior, leading to rapid containment measures. Global-e noted that it implemented controls swiftly once the suspicious activity was identified, preventing further unauthorized access.

What Customer Data Was Compromised

The breach exposed personal details of Ledger customers who made purchases through Ledger.com using Global-e as a Merchant of Record. Compromised information included customer names and contact details, though the exact number of affected users has not been disclosed publicly. Notably, the exposure was limited to order data and customer contact information stored in Global-e’s systems.

A critical point of reassurance: the incident did not compromise payment card information, nor did it involve access to Ledger’s own infrastructure. As Ledger emphasized in its official response, “This was not a breach of Ledger’s platform, hardware or software systems, which remain secure.” Since Ledger products operate on a self-custodial model, users’ cryptocurrency holdings, private keys (24-word recovery phrases), and blockchain balances remained completely protected.

Importantly, Global-e’s systems did not store any blockchain-related secrets or digital asset information. The breach was strictly limited to transactional and contact data within the payment processor’s cloud environment.

Ledger and Global-e’s Response to the Security Incident

Ledger confirmed that it was notified of the security event and is collaborating with Global-e to reach out to affected customers. The company clarified the responsibility structure: “Ledger was made aware of an incident at Global-e, an e-commerce partner for global brands and retailers, including Ledger. This incident consisted of unauthorized access to order data in Global-e information systems.”

Both organizations emphasized that the breach extended beyond Ledger—multiple other major brands were also impacted by unauthorized access to Global-e’s cloud systems. This broader exposure suggests the attack targeted the payment processor’s infrastructure rather than being directed at any specific customer base.

Global-e’s containment efforts included implementing additional security controls and conducting a comprehensive forensic review. The company committed to notifying all affected parties and working with each brand to communicate appropriate remediation steps.

Looking Back: Ledger’s Security History

This incident marks another chapter in Ledger’s ongoing security challenges. The company previously faced a significant data breach in 2020 through its e-commerce partner Shopify, which exposed information belonging to approximately 270,000 customers. More recently, in 2023, Ledger fell victim to a sophisticated attack that resulted in losses of nearly $500,000 and affected several decentralized finance applications.

Despite these incidents, Ledger has maintained that its core hardware wallet technology and cryptographic systems remain secure. Each event has been traced to third-party integrations rather than vulnerabilities in Ledger’s proprietary technology.

Crypto Market Sentiment Amid Security Concerns

The disclosure comes during a volatile period for cryptocurrency markets. Bitcoin (BTC) has faced downward pressure in recent weeks, currently trading around $84,040 according to the latest data from January 29, 2026. The broader market has experienced considerable cooling, with spot cryptocurrency trading volumes dropping significantly to approximately $900 billion annually—a notable decline from the prior year’s $1.7 trillion in trading activity.

This shift reflects cautious investor sentiment amid macroeconomic uncertainties and renewed focus on security protocols across the industry. Ledger itself stressed its commitment to protecting user interests: “We remain united with the industry at war against hackers and bad actors who are tirelessly trying to steal users’ information in the ecosystem and e-commerce space at large.”

Meanwhile, certain segments of the crypto market demonstrated resilience. Bitcoin miners that diversified into AI infrastructure and high-performance computing continued to outperform during the market downturn, suggesting that technology-focused innovation remains a positive market sentiment driver.