Bitfinex Hacker Claims Sole Responsibility for 2016 BTC Heist
Ilya Lichtenstein, known for the 2016 Bitfinex heist, reiterated his confession, claiming he acted alone without involvement from his wife, Heather Morgan. This statement aims to counter narratives presented in Netflix's documentary about the crypto theft.
In a video released from federal detention, Lichtenstein expressed remorse for orchestrating the heist and stated he laundered the stolen Bitcoin (BTC) independently through dark web channels. He described his wife as a victim of his actions:
“In many ways, my wife … is just another victim of my bad decisions.”
Contradicting Netflix’s “Biggest Heist Ever”
Lichtenstein's remarks oppose the portrayal in Netflix’s documentary “Biggest Heist Ever,” which depicted them as the “Bitcoin Bonnie and Clyde.” The documentary also suggested potential involvement of his father or foreign agencies like Russia, claims Lichtenstein refuted:
“My dad is no hacker, he doesn’t even know how to use Instagram … I offer my sincerest apologies to Bitfinex for all the stress that I have caused them.”
He expressed a desire to redirect his skills toward cybersecurity after release.
Heather Morgan Breaks Silence
In response to her husband’s statements, Morgan claimed to CoinDesk that details of their case were misrepresented and cited restrictions during legal proceedings that limited her ability to speak publicly. She looks forward to sharing her story now that the case has concluded:
“While our criminal case was open, I was unable to speak publicly or tell my story.”
Morgan emphasized her pre-existing “Razzlekhan” persona and reiterated her lack of involvement in the theft.
Where is the Stolen Bitcoin Now?
Both Lichtenstein and Morgan pleaded guilty in August 2023 to money laundering charges related to the stolen funds. Lichtenstein received a five-year sentence, while Morgan was sentenced to 18 months.
The 120,000 Bitcoin stolen during the 2016 hack remains partially unaccounted for. While some assets have been confiscated, Lichtenstein stated he is cooperating to return the stolen funds:
“For the past three years, I have worked hard to account for and return all assets down to the last satoshi.”
A restitution hearing is scheduled for February 2025 to decide the distribution of recovered Bitcoin to Bitfinex or its affected customers.