Bitfinex Hacker Ilya Lichtenstein Breaks Silence Adressing 120,000 Bitcoin Heist

by

As a researcher who has delved deep into the world of cybercrime and its perpetrators, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of empathy for Ilya Lichtenstein, the self-proclaimed Bitfinex hacker. Here is a man who, in his own words, was once driven by greed and lack of remorse, only to find himself behind bars, facing the music for his actions.

Ilya Lichtenstein, the individual involved in the Bitfinex hack of 2016 that resulted in the theft of approximately 120,000 Bitcoin, has issued his initial public comments following his arrest in 2022.

On a five-minute clip shared on X, Lichtenstein openly admitted that he was solely responsible for the hack, dispelling rumors fueled by a Netflix documentary series suggesting his father could have been involved.

Bitfinex Hacker Breaks Silence

For the first time since his arrest in 2022, Ilya Lichtenstein, who claims to be the hacker responsible for the 2016 Bitfinex heist involving 120,000 Bitcoin, has broken his public silence.

On Tuesday, I reiterated my individual accountability for the crime, stressing that it was entirely my actions. Furthermore, I refuted speculations from recent Netflix documentaries suggesting that my father played a part or that I had any connections to a Russian intelligence agency.

I have something to say#FreeRazzlekhan

— Ilya Lichtenstein (@unrealdutch) December 19, 2024

Lichtenstein expressed regret and outlined his post-prison plans, stating, “Upon my release from prison, I intend to pursue a career in cybersecurity.” He underscored his newfound awareness of cyber threats and his dedication to fighting them. His sentence spans five years, taking into account the time he’s already served since his 2022 arrest, which occurred while the case was still under investigation.

He stated:

“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. I knew what I was doing was wrong and I did it anyway because I didn’t care … I look back at the person I was then, and I hate myself. I hate myself.”

The individual in question discussed the procedure for returning the funds, which were previously stolen from the exchange, back to their rightful owners. The Bitfinex hacker mentioned that over the last three years, he has been diligently working to trace and restore all assets specified in his plea agreement. Furthermore, he expressed his intention to carry on with this endeavor in the future.

The restitution hearing scheduled for February will decide whether the recovered funds will be returned to Bitfinex or distributed directly to its users.

It’s not uncommon to hear about digital platform breaches these days. Most recently, the Indian cryptocurrency exchange WazirX faced a significant setback when the Delhi High Court demanded a new investigation into the case. The court dismissed the status report submitted by Delhi police regarding the WazirX hack incident and requested a fresh probe. Moreover, just a few days prior, there were rumors that the Gate exchange experienced a hack attack, prompting users to withdraw their funds.

“Razzlekhan” Morgan Admits Role in Laundering Stolen Bitcoin

As a crypto investor, I recently learned that Heather Morgan, also known as “Razzlekhan,” has pleaded guilty for her involvement in a money laundering conspiracy and conspiring to deceive the United States in relation to the hack on Bitfinex. According to prosecutors, she became aware of the hack years later and was asked by Lichtenstein to assist in laundering the stolen Bitcoins.

Morgan, once known for her unusual rap content on videos, was sentenced to 18 months in prison last month due to the scheme she was involved in. Lately, she has been selling her own videos on Cameo for approximately $125 each. She may begin serving her sentence as soon as next month. The Bitcoin, which held a value of around $70 million in 2016, is now estimated to be worth roughly $12 billion.

In the Netflix documentary about the case, it mentioned that a significant amount of the stolen funds were yet to be traced. But Lichtenstein disputed this assertion, arguing that every penny had already been accounted for.

 

Read More

2024-12-19 18:04