Ilya Lichtenstein, the hacker behind one of the largest Bitcoin thefts in history, was released early despite previously being sentenced to 5 years in prison. This occurred thanks to the First Step Act criminal justice reform law signed into effect during former President Donald Trump’s first term. The law allows for sentence reductions through rehabilitation credits and recovery programs.
Lichtenstein was sentenced in November 2024 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to money laundering related to the 2016 Bitfinex exchange hack, which resulted in nearly 120,000 Bitcoin being stolen. On social media platform X, he stated that he would strive to make positive contributions to the cybersecurity field after being released.
His wife, Heather Morgan (, also involved in the case and previously sentenced to 18 months in prison for aiding in money laundering, was released early in October 2025. The case continues to attract attention amid signals from Trump considering some pardon applications related to cryptocurrencies.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
AI Agents Prefer Bitcoin Over Fiat, New Study Finds
A Bitcoin Policy Institute study delves into how artificial intelligence models choose among money forms in a variety of hypothetical scenarios, revealing a strong inclination toward Bitcoin and digital money over fiat in most cases. The research tested 36 models across six providers and generated m
CryptoBreaking15m ago
Arthur Hayes: BTC has not yet decoupled from American SaaS technology companies and may only be a short-term rebound
Odaily Planet Daily reports that Arthur Hayes posted on the X platform stating that BTC (white) has not yet decoupled from the US SaaS technology company (green). This may just be a short-term rebound, and it has not yet moved out of the danger zone. Patience is required.
GateNews59m ago
The top account in Coincoin's real trading profits is currently long on $30.31 million worth of ETH and BTC.
According to on-chain analysts monitoring, the well-known account "Old Demon" is long on $30.31 million worth of ETH and BTC, with a total profit of 86.6 million RMB, a historical win rate of 50%, and a total return of 3698%.
GateNews1h ago
Bitcoin Mining Hashprice Hits Record Low, Bitdeer Divests BTC Amid AI Pivot
Bitcoin miners faced severe economic pressure throughout February 2026, as hashprice—the key measure of mining profitability—dropped to an all-time low near $33 per petahash per day, falling below the estimated average production cost of approximately $84,000 per Bitcoin.
CryptopulseElite1h ago
