Hardware wallet crisis: It remains to be verified whether kitchen scales can identify tampered devices
2026-10-12 22:08:36
According to CoinMeta, recently due to a hardware wallet theft incident involving approximately $93 million, many crypto users have begun to use kitchen scales to check if their hardware wallets have been tampered with. This practice has gained attention after it was confirmed that devices sold through Cryptobilis contained hidden implants. Ledger claimed that their systems were not affected, but the affected devices still reached buyers through that channel. The reason users weigh their hardware wallets on a scale is that this helps to keep the devices sealed and untouched. Manufacturers provide reference weights for comparison; Ledger Nano X weighs 34 grams, while Trezor Safe weighs 14 grams. Users compare their readings with these reference values, and theoretically, additional circuit boards and antennas would increase the weight, so heavier hardware wallets seem suspicious. This type of setup was discovered by the former CEO of Gox, who purchased Nano X in Malaysia. The hidden spy chips read the mnemonic phrases and sent them via cellular connection. Ultimately, kitchen scales can only detect rough implants and are unable to identify more subtle ones; therefore, purchasing directly from the manufacturer may be more reliable than conducting home tests.
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Source:BeInCrypto
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