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Foundation Wallet Breach Raises Fears of Physical Attacks on Bitcoin Holders

On October 25, 2026, attackers hijacked the official email domains of Foundation, the company behind the Passport Bitcoin hardware wallet. They used compromised Cloudflare API keys to bypass security filters and send phishing emails from legitimate addresses, including hello@foundation.xyz.

The emails falsely warned users that their hardware wallets were being recalled because a display module had been tampered with. They directed recipients to a fake support website designed to steal their Bitcoin.

Foundation responded by revoking the compromised API keys, coordinating the removal of the malicious website, and confirming that Passport devices and user funds remained safe.

Several affected customers reported that the phishing emails contained their exact names, phone numbers, shipping addresses, and detailed order histories dating back to mid-2025.

Although the compromised Cloudflare keys explain how the attackers sent emails that bypassed spam filters, they do not explain how the attackers obtained this customer information. Foundation is investigating whether attackers breached a separate backend system or e-commerce platform.

Read also: New Vulnerability in ESP32 Chips Puts Crypto Hardware Wallets at Severe Risk

Attackers used supply chain fears to target users

The phishing campaign succeeded by targeting the hardware wallet industry through physical tampering during manufacturing or delivery.

Because the emails came from legitimate Foundation addresses, they appeared technically credible. Combined with the urgent recall warning, this made the scam more convincing.

X user Tay noted that the emails easily bypassed spam filters and directed recipients to a convincing fake website. Tay also confirmed that the attackers had accurate records of a purchase made in mid-2025, showing how far back the exposed customer information went.

Read also: Top DeFi Wallets in 2026, What to Look Out For Before You Choose

Customer data breaches remain a weak point in crypto security

The unresolved data exposure highlights a major weakness in the hardware wallet industry. Although hardware wallets use advanced encryption to protect Bitcoin offline, manufacturers still collect customers’ personal information to process orders and deliver products.

This creates a physical security risk for customers who hold significant amounts of Bitcoin. If their names, addresses, phone numbers, and purchase histories are exposed, criminals could use that information to identify and target them in the real world.

X user named Maru expressed frustration over the incident, questioning how such detailed information, including specific delivery methods, could have leaked. Maru also said the incident had destroyed their trust in existing security standards.

Another user, Arkad, noted that similar data breaches had affected almost every major hardware wallet manufacturer over the years. Arkad argued that consumers should assume any personal information they provide when purchasing a hardware wallet could eventually be exposed.

The Foundation data breach resembles a major incident involving rival hardware wallet maker Ledger in 2020. Hackers accessed an e-commerce marketing database and exposed the physical addresses and phone numbers of more than 272,000 customers. In the months that followed, victims faced targeted attacks beyond ordinary phishing emails.

Criminals used leaked phone numbers to carry out SIM-swapping attacks, attempting to bypass two-factor authentication on centralized cryptocurrency exchanges. Some victims also reported receiving physical threats at their homes demanding ransom payments.

The incident highlights the gap between the strong cryptographic protection hardware wallets offer and the weaker security that may surround the customer databases used to sell and deliver them. 

 

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