Stole nearly 120,000 BTC! The main suspect in the Bitfinex Bitcoin hacker case is released early, posts a message thanking Trump's policies

Bitfinex Hacker Suspect Lichtenstein Released Early, Netflix Documentary Reveals Largest Bitcoin Theft in History, Sparking Justice and Crypto Ethics Debates.

The Netflix documentary Biggest Heist Ever exposes a couple who appear to live an absurd life but are actually connected to a global cryptocurrency scandal. In 2016, the Bitfinex exchange was hacked, resulting in the theft of approximately 119,754 Bitcoins. The two suspects, Ilya Lichtenstein and his wife, hip-hop artist Heather Morgan (stage name Razzlekhan), were able to operate remotely from New York while controlling the Hong Kong-based Bitfinex exchange, stealing the Bitcoin.

Now, benefiting from a Trump pardon, Lichtenstein has been released early. He posted on X thanking Trump and said he would contribute to cybersecurity. This turn of events is more bizarre than any Hollywood movie, and whistleblowers in the documentary suggest that Lichtenstein’s father is a feared figure in the hacking community—perhaps the real mastermind behind the scenes? Lichtenstein’s early release and thank-you post on Trump have reignited discussions, reminding everyone of this bizarre case.

Bitfinex Exchange Hacked in 2016, 119,754 Bitcoins Stolen

The Netflix documentary Biggest Heist Ever depicts the extravagant lifestyle of the couple in New York: they frequently post silly videos on Instagram, from rap performances to bizarre selfies. They seem like just fringe social media creators, but secretly, they are linked to a cryptocurrency theft that shocked the global financial world, originating from Hong Kong.

In August 2016, the cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex was hacked, and about 119,754 Bitcoins were stolen, worth approximately $71 million at the time; today, their value exceeds $10 billion, making it one of the largest Bitcoin thefts in history. The case remained unsolved for years until February 2022, when the U.S. Department of Justice arrested Lichtenstein and Morgan, revealing the full scope of a multi-year crime involving complex money laundering networks.

94,000 Bitcoins Recovered by U.S. Authorities

Lichtenstein admitted to hacking into Bitfinex’s system and orchestrating long-term money laundering, converting some of the stolen Bitcoins into other cryptocurrencies and physical gold. According to investigations, about 94,000 Bitcoins have been recovered by U.S. authorities, while approximately 25,000 remain unaccounted for. In January 2025, U.S. prosecutors filed a motion to return the recovered Bitcoins to Bitfinex.

In November 2024, Lichtenstein was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. However, he was recently released early after serving only 14 months. He credits this to the First Step Act signed by President Trump during his term.

Image source: X

Lichtenstein Thanks Trump’s First Step Act

After his release, Lichtenstein posted on X expressing gratitude to President Trump for signing the First Step Act, which allowed him to regain his freedom early. He also announced his intention to actively contribute to cybersecurity in the future. He thanked his supporters and boldly stated he would prove critics wrong.

The First Step Act, signed by Trump in 2018, is a prison and sentencing reform law aimed at reducing sentences for non-violent offenders, lowering recidivism, and saving costs for taxpayers. It allows some inmates to be released early for good behavior or meeting certain criteria. Lichtenstein was one of the beneficiaries.

However, his early release has sparked controversy within the crypto community. Some congratulated him on social media, while others criticized harshly. An on-chain investigator on X sarcastically posted a meme saying “Crime is legal.”

Image source: Chain News

Morgan was sentenced to 18 months after being arrested alongside her husband in 2022, serving about 8 months, and was released in October 2024. Lichtenstein repeatedly emphasized that his wife was not involved in the hacking but only in subsequent financial transactions.

Lichtenstein’s release coincided with Trump’s controversial use of clemency powers in several cryptocurrency-related cases. Although Lichtenstein himself was not pardoned, Trump granted clemency to Silk Road founder Uli Ubrich, co-founder of BitMEX, and Binance founder Zhao Changpeng (CZ), raising questions about whether the U.S. justice system is too lenient on crypto crimes. From the absurd daily life depicted in Netflix to the century’s biggest theft shaking global finance, the Bitfinex hacker case reflects the bizarre phenomena in the crypto world and prompts deep reflection on justice, ethics, and power.

The documentary Biggest Heist Ever is titled The Ultimate Crypto Scam: Hacker Couple in Hong Kong Netflix, and The Biggest Money Laundering Heist: Crypto Couple Thieves in Taiwan, and is still available to watch. For those interested in this case, this documentary offers a glimpse into the double lives of this hacker couple navigating between reality and crime.

• This article is reprinted with permission from: Chain News
• Original title: Bitfinex Exchange Bitcoin Hacker Suspect Released Early, Thanks Trump’s Good Deeds
• Original author: DW