Bitfinex hacker Ilya Lichtenstein makes his first public statement after his arrest

What’s new? Ilya Lichtenstein, who was responsible for hacking the Bitfinex platform in 2016 and stealing 120 000 bitcoins, has broken his silence following his arrest in 2022.

In his public comment, Lichtenstein expressed regret, took full responsibility for his actions and shared his plans for life after his prison term, The Block reports. According to the hacker, neither his wife Heather Morgan nor his father had anything to do with the hacking of the platform. He added:

“I planned and executed the Bitfinex heist entirely by myself. And I am the one who bears full responsibility for everything that has happened. Any allegations that my elderly and not-at-all tech-savvy father had any involvement in any hacking activity ever are completely false and frankly absurd.”

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What else is known? Lichtenstein denied the rumors and assured of his intention to make amends. In a five-minute video, he dismissed all emerging speculation, mostly generated by the Netflix documentary, about a possible link between his father or the Russian spy agency and the incident.

Liechtenstein also emphasized its willingness to make restitution, saying it has been working for the past three years to recover the stolen funds. A hearing in February 2025 will decide exactly how the restitution will be distributed — between Bitfinex and the affected users.

Speaking about the future, Lichtenstein said that after leaving prison he intends to build a career in cybersecurity, assuring that his experience will help in countering cyber threats. To that end, the defendant has already helped the government by testifying against alleged Bitcoin Fog crypto mixer operator Roman Sterlingov, who was convicted by a jury and sentenced to 12,5 years. He must serve a five-year sentence, with time spent in custody since his arrest to be taken into account.

US Attorney’s Office requests 18 months in prison for Bitfinex hacking accomplice

Law enforcers explained such a small sentence by the fact that Heather Morgan actively cooperated with the investigation and played a minor role in the crime

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Earlier, the US Attorney’s Office requested 18 months in prison for Heather Morgan for her involvement in laundering, 120 000 bitcoins stolen from crypto exchange Bitfinex in 2016. Law enforcers explained that Morgan provided substantial assistance in a July 2023 plea deal between her and her husband Ilya Lichtenstein.