Blab Crypto
Ledger Names Former Fireblocks Executive Oded Blatman as CIO-CISO Amid Rising AI-Driven Crypto Attacks
Ledger SAS, the Paris‑based maker of hardware wallets that secure private keys offline, announced on September 9, 2026 that it has appointed Oded Blatman as its new chief information officer and chief security officer. The move consolidates oversight of the company’s internal technology systems and security functions under a single executive.
Blatman, who previously served as chief information officer and chief information security officer at Fireblocks for five years, will oversee cyber and infrastructure security, product security, physical and workplace security, internal IT and enterprise risk. Ledger said the combined role will help the company’s defenses evolve in step with cyber threats that are becoming ever more sophisticated.
"AI is changing the risk and threat landscape all over the industry, lowering the cost and time required to search for weaknesses," Blatman told Ledger in an interview. "It makes attacks much more sophisticated and with greater scale, and the defending side needs to move at equal speeds."
The appointment comes as the digital‑asset sector experiences a surge in AI‑powered attacks. According to DefiLlama data, 2026 has seen $1.4 billion stolen in 250 attacks, compared with $2.7 billion in 146 attacks in 2025. Recent incidents include a $320 million Bitcoin theft from the Liquid Network, a data breach at Trezor’s shipping provider that exposed personal information of tens of thousands of customers, and a hack of the Coldcard offline wallet that raised questions about the security of hardware wallets.
Attackers are increasingly using AI to automate phishing campaigns, generate deep‑fake impersonations and scan for vulnerabilities. Ledger’s statement notes that the growing use of blockchain technology to issue and trade mainstream assets such as stocks and bonds raises the stakes for security.
Blatman’s background includes a stint as global chief information security officer at Bank Hapoalim, one of Israel’s largest banks, before joining Fireblocks. His experience in institutional‑grade security is seen as a fit for Ledger’s mission to protect users’ digital assets.
Ledger’s decision to merge the CIO and CSO roles reflects a broader industry trend. Several crypto firms have begun to centralize security leadership to ensure tighter coordination between product development, infrastructure, and threat‑response teams.
The company’s move is also a response to the rapid evolution of AI tools that lower the barrier to entry for sophisticated attacks. By placing cyber‑security and technology strategy under one executive, Ledger aims to align its internal defenses with the pace of emerging threats.
While Ledger has not disclosed specific security metrics, the company’s public statement underscores its commitment to maintaining the integrity of its hardware wallets, which are widely regarded as the gold standard for offline crypto storage.
The appointment is expected to influence Ledger’s future product roadmap and security protocols. The company has not announced any immediate changes to its hardware wallet lineup, but industry observers anticipate that Ledger will continue to invest in advanced threat‑detection and response capabilities.
As the crypto industry grapples with the dual challenges of scaling adoption and mitigating risk, Ledger’s leadership change signals a proactive stance against the growing threat of AI‑driven attacks.
The broader market reaction to Ledger’s announcement has been muted, with the company’s shares remaining largely flat in the days following the press release. Analysts note that the appointment is a strategic move rather than a response to a specific incident.
Ledger’s new CIO‑CISO will report directly to CEO Pascal Gauthier and will work closely with the company’s product and engineering teams to embed security best practices across all layers of the organization.
In the coming months, stakeholders will watch for updates on Ledger’s security posture, potential new features, and any changes to its hardware wallet ecosystem. The company’s leadership change is a reminder that even established players must adapt to the evolving threat landscape.
The appointment underscores the importance of aligning technology strategy with security objectives in an era where AI can accelerate both innovation and attack vectors. Ledger’s decision to consolidate its security leadership reflects a broader industry shift toward integrated, proactive defense mechanisms.
As the crypto sector continues to mature, Ledger’s move may set a precedent for other hardware wallet manufacturers and digital‑asset firms seeking to strengthen their security frameworks against increasingly sophisticated threats.
Blatman, who previously served as chief information officer and chief information security officer at Fireblocks for five years, will oversee cyber and infrastructure security, product security, physical and workplace security, internal IT and enterprise risk. Ledger said the combined role will help the company’s defenses evolve in step with cyber threats that are becoming ever more sophisticated.
"AI is changing the risk and threat landscape all over the industry, lowering the cost and time required to search for weaknesses," Blatman told Ledger in an interview. "It makes attacks much more sophisticated and with greater scale, and the defending side needs to move at equal speeds."
The appointment comes as the digital‑asset sector experiences a surge in AI‑powered attacks. According to DefiLlama data, 2026 has seen $1.4 billion stolen in 250 attacks, compared with $2.7 billion in 146 attacks in 2025. Recent incidents include a $320 million Bitcoin theft from the Liquid Network, a data breach at Trezor’s shipping provider that exposed personal information of tens of thousands of customers, and a hack of the Coldcard offline wallet that raised questions about the security of hardware wallets.
Attackers are increasingly using AI to automate phishing campaigns, generate deep‑fake impersonations and scan for vulnerabilities. Ledger’s statement notes that the growing use of blockchain technology to issue and trade mainstream assets such as stocks and bonds raises the stakes for security.
Blatman’s background includes a stint as global chief information security officer at Bank Hapoalim, one of Israel’s largest banks, before joining Fireblocks. His experience in institutional‑grade security is seen as a fit for Ledger’s mission to protect users’ digital assets.
Ledger’s decision to merge the CIO and CSO roles reflects a broader industry trend. Several crypto firms have begun to centralize security leadership to ensure tighter coordination between product development, infrastructure, and threat‑response teams.
The company’s move is also a response to the rapid evolution of AI tools that lower the barrier to entry for sophisticated attacks. By placing cyber‑security and technology strategy under one executive, Ledger aims to align its internal defenses with the pace of emerging threats.
While Ledger has not disclosed specific security metrics, the company’s public statement underscores its commitment to maintaining the integrity of its hardware wallets, which are widely regarded as the gold standard for offline crypto storage.
The appointment is expected to influence Ledger’s future product roadmap and security protocols. The company has not announced any immediate changes to its hardware wallet lineup, but industry observers anticipate that Ledger will continue to invest in advanced threat‑detection and response capabilities.
As the crypto industry grapples with the dual challenges of scaling adoption and mitigating risk, Ledger’s leadership change signals a proactive stance against the growing threat of AI‑driven attacks.
The broader market reaction to Ledger’s announcement has been muted, with the company’s shares remaining largely flat in the days following the press release. Analysts note that the appointment is a strategic move rather than a response to a specific incident.
Ledger’s new CIO‑CISO will report directly to CEO Pascal Gauthier and will work closely with the company’s product and engineering teams to embed security best practices across all layers of the organization.
In the coming months, stakeholders will watch for updates on Ledger’s security posture, potential new features, and any changes to its hardware wallet ecosystem. The company’s leadership change is a reminder that even established players must adapt to the evolving threat landscape.
The appointment underscores the importance of aligning technology strategy with security objectives in an era where AI can accelerate both innovation and attack vectors. Ledger’s decision to consolidate its security leadership reflects a broader industry shift toward integrated, proactive defense mechanisms.
As the crypto sector continues to mature, Ledger’s move may set a precedent for other hardware wallet manufacturers and digital‑asset firms seeking to strengthen their security frameworks against increasingly sophisticated threats.
