Ledger CTO Warns of Shocking NPM Attacks Targeting Crypto Users

A chilling warning from the CTO of Ledger has sent shockwaves through the crypto community. According to recent reports, a large-scale supply chain attack is underway, leveraging the Node Package Manager (NPM) ecosystem that underpins vast portions of the global web.

A Billion Downloads, A Billion Risks

Here’s what’s happening:

• The NPM account of a reputable developer has been compromised.
• Malicious code has already been injected into widely used JavaScript packages.
• Those infected packages have been downloaded over 1 billion times.

The payload is insidious. It silently swaps crypto addresses on the fly, so if you attempt to make a transaction, your funds could be redirected to a hacker’s wallet without you noticing.

This isn’t just another exploit—it potentially affects the entire JavaScript ecosystem, and by extension, anyone who interacts with on-chain transactions through compromised apps, wallets, or websites.

Hardware Wallets: Your Line of Defense

The good news is simple: if you use a hardware wallet, you are far less exposed. Hardware wallets force you to visually confirm the recipient address before signing. As long as you double-check that address, the malicious code cannot override your final approval.

If you don’t use a hardware wallet, the risk is much higher. In fact, experts are advising users of software wallets to refrain from making any on-chain transactions until this attack is fully contained and audited. At this stage, it’s still unclear whether the attackers are also attempting to steal recovery seeds directly from software-based wallets.

Recommended Security Practices

At Invest Offshore, we always emphasize self-custody with maximum security. In light of this ongoing threat, here are our top recommendations:

1. Exodus Crypto Wallet – An excellent option for multi-asset portfolio management, with an intuitive interface and built-in support for hardware wallets. Use Exodus as your daily dashboard, but pair it with cold storage for signing.
2. Trezor Hardware Wallet – An industry-leading cold storage solution, offering open-source firmware and easy integration with popular wallet software. It provides peace of mind by ensuring your private keys never leave the device.
3. Ledger Hardware Wallet – Despite the current CTO’s sobering warning, Ledger remains a battle-tested and highly secure hardware solution. When combined with vigilance—always verifying every address—it remains one of the best defenses against supply chain exploits.

The Takeaway

This attack is a stark reminder of the fragile trust model in open-source ecosystems. One compromised developer account can cascade into billions of vulnerabilities. But with proper precautions—particularly the use of hardware wallets—investors can significantly mitigate these risks.

In the fast-evolving world of offshore finance and crypto investment, security is not optional. If you haven’t already, make 2025 the year you upgrade your digital defenses.

At Invest Offshore, we will continue monitoring developments in this unfolding NPM attack. Meanwhile, we recommend all our readers to review their wallet setup immediately, secure their seeds, and treat every transaction with heightened scrutiny.