Ilya Lichtenstein, the man behind the infamous 2016 Bitfinex hack, has broken his silence following his sentencing to five years in federal prison.
In a post on X, Lichtenstein took full responsibility for the massive Bitcoin theft and subsequent laundering while urging the public not to hold his wife, Heather Morgan, accountable for his actions.
Source: X
“I knew what I was doing was wrong and did it anyway because I didn’t care—I didn’t care about anyone else except myself,” said Lichtenstein in a video message seemingly delivered from prison. He insisted that he acted alone in planning and executing the Bitfinex breach, stressing that Morgan, who was sentenced to 18 months for her role in laundering the stolen funds, had no knowledge of the hack until years later.
“She didn’t even know about it for years,” Lichtenstein said, adding that she played no part in the technical aspects of the heist.
Morgan, better known as the rapper “Razzlekhan,” pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money and defraud the United States earlier this year. Despite her sentence, Morgan has remained active on social media, posting updates about her legal journey and promoting personal projects, including a Cameo channel where she refers to herself as “crypto’s favorite felon” and charges $125 for personalized videos.
A Hack That Shook Crypto
The 2016 Bitfinex hack remains one of the largest breaches in cryptocurrency history, with 119,754 Bitcoin stolen. Initially worth millions, the stolen funds ballooned to over $12 billion in value by the time U.S. authorities arrested Lichtenstein and Morgan in 2022.
In court, Lichtenstein admitted to being solely responsible for the hack and acknowledged the devastating impact it had on Bitfinex users and the wider crypto community. Federal investigators have since seized much of the stolen Bitcoin, and restitution hearings are scheduled for February 21, 2025. Bitfinex announced plans to begin reimbursing affected users by early next year.
Media Frenzy and Netflix Documentary
The high-profile case has drawn significant public attention, culminating in a Netflix documentary exploring the bizarre lives of Lichtenstein and Morgan. The series delves into their alleged crimes and includes speculation about whether Lichtenstein’s father was involved—a claim Lichtenstein vehemently denied in his X post.
“My dad is no hacker. He doesn’t even know how to use Instagram,” he said.
What’s Next for Heather Morgan?
Morgan’s post-sentencing activities have raised eyebrows, with some questioning her decision to lean into her criminal notoriety. After her sentencing in November, she posted a video suggesting she would focus on “creative and other endeavors.” Her Cameo channel, launched in mid-December, markets her as a unique voice in crypto crime, blending humor and infamy to monetize her newfound celebrity status.
Morgan is set to report to the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, in January 2025. Interestingly, this is the same facility housing Caroline Ellison, former Alameda Research CEO, who received a two-year sentence for her role in the FTX scandal.
As the dust settles, Lichtenstein’s attempt to shield Morgan from blame highlights a complex narrative of individual responsibility, misguided loyalty, and the human cost of one of crypto’s most notorious heists. Whether the couple’s story serves as a cautionary tale or a source of morbid fascination, it continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
