Ilya Lichtenstein, the hacker who perpetrated the 2016 Bitfinex exchange compromise, has issued his initial public statement since his 2022 arrest. Lichtenstein expressed regret for his actions in a video posted to X (formerly Twitter), admitting that he was the sole individual responsible for the loss of 120,000 Bitcoin from the exchange. He accepted complete responsibility for the hack and expressed regret for the negative effects it had on Bitfinex.
Lichtenstein also refuted any involvement from his family in the crime, denying the rumors that his father or a spy agency may have been involved, as suggested in a Netflix documentary. He denied these allegations, asserting, “My father is not a hacker; he is not even aware of how to use Instagram.”
Lichtenstein also provided an update on the restitution process, emphasizing his dedication to the return of the stolen assets, in addition to his contrition. He confirmed that his assistance had recovered the majority of the stolen Bitcoin, and he scheduled a restitution hearing for February to determine the distribution of the funds to the affected Bitfinex users.
Lichtenstein sentenced Heather Morgan, also known as “Razzlekhan,” to 18 months in prison for her involvement in the laundering of the stolen Bitcoin. In his statement, Lichtenstein identified his wife as a victim of his actions, claiming that she was unaware of the breach at the time it occurred. Morgan, who has maintained an active presence on social media platforms during her home arrest, is eager to resume her creative endeavors at the conclusion of her case.
In the future, Lichtenstein expressed a desire to make amends by pursuing a career in cybersecurity after serving his sentence. “I intend to dedicate myself to the cybersecurity industry upon my release from prison,” he stated, expressing his awareness of cyber threats and his desire to assist in the prevention of similar crimes in the future.
One of the most significant hacks in the history of cryptocurrency was the 2016 Bitfinex breach, which led to the theft of nearly 120,000 Bitcoin. At the time of the breach, the stolen Bitcoin’s value was approximately $70 million, but it has since increased to approximately $12 billion.
