Ilya Lichtenstein Denies Third-Party Involvement in Bitfinex Bitcoin Heist
In a bold public statement, Ilya Lichtenstein, who confessed last year to charges associated with the massive 2016 theft of around 120,000 Bitcoin from the cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex, has addressed the public once again. On Thursday, Lichtenstein posted a video on X, directly refuting any claims of third-party involvement in the infamous hack. This marks his first public communication since his arrest in 2022. In the video, he countered accusations made in a Netflix documentary that insinuated his father or any external entity, potentially including foreign intelligence agencies, played a role in the heist.
Ilya Lichtenstein Asserts Sole Responsibility for the Bitfinex Breach
In his video address, Lichtenstein confidently stated, “I planned and executed the Bitfinex hack entirely by myself. I alone am accountable for all that transpired.” He further repudiated other conjectures, asserting, “The notion that my elderly father, who lacks any technical prowess, was involved in any hacking activities is utterly false and frankly preposterous.”
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The 2016 Bitfinex breach remains a landmark event in the annals of cryptocurrency security breaches. At the time of the theft, the 120,000 Bitcoin were valued at about $72 million. However, their current market value is believed to surpass $12.6 billion. According to the prosecution, Lichtenstein’s wife, Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan, only became involved post-theft, having admitted guilt to charges of money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Lichtenstein Clarifies Morgan’s Limited Involvement
In his video message, Lichtenstein emphasized that Morgan’s involvement did not extend to the hacking or orchestration of the theft itself, stating, “While my wife did plead guilty to laundering a small portion of the stolen funds, she was in no way involved in the actual hack. In fact, she remained unaware of it for years.”
As per official statements and the plea deal, Lichtenstein has been aiding authorities in the recovery of the stolen assets. He reiterated these commitments in his video: “Over the last three years, I have diligently worked to account for and return all assets down to the last Satoshi as stipulated by my plea agreement. I intend to continue these efforts during the forfeiture and restitution process, which is projected to recover over $10 billion by the first quarter of next year.”
Lichtenstein Expresses Remorse and Plans for the Future
Lichtenstein openly acknowledged his transgressions, admitting, “I hacked Bitfinex. I stole and laundered thousands of Bitcoin. I am deeply sorry for all of it.” He conveyed his regret and expressed a wish to make amends, describing himself as having made “a series of selfish and poor decisions” during the heist and its aftermath. Highlighting his sole responsibility, he stated, “No one else bears responsibility for the hack but me.”
A New Path Ahead: Cybersecurity
Looking toward the future, Lichtenstein revealed his post-sentence aspirations: “After my release from prison in about a year, I intend to focus on a career in the cybersecurity industry.” With insights gained from his past illicit activities, Lichtenstein believes he can significantly contribute to enhancing cybersecurity defenses: “No one understands hackers better than someone who once was one. I am aware of the cyber threats we face and have the knowledge to counter them.”
He urged Netflix viewers to consult publicly accessible court documents to form their own informed opinions: “You don’t need to rely solely on my words. All the court documents detailing the case facts are publicly available. You can read them yourself and draw your own conclusions.”
As of this report, neither Bitfinex nor Netflix representatives have publicly addressed Lichtenstein’s video. At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $102,371.
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