Ilya Lichtenstein, who pleaded guilty to charges related to the 2016 Bitfinex hack, has released his first public statement since being arrested in 2022. In a video posted on X, Lichtenstein reasserts that he acted alone in stealing the 120,000 bitcoin, contradicting theories presented in a Netflix documentary that suggested his father or possibly a spy agency might have been involved.
Lichtenstein, who was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering, expressed remorse for his actions, stating, 'I offer my sincerest apologies to Bitfinex for all the stress that I have caused them.' He also provided an update on the restitution of the stolen funds, stating that he has worked to account for and return all assets as required by his plea agreement. A restitution hearing is scheduled for February to determine the distribution of the recovered funds to either Bitfinex or its affected customers. Lichtenstein's wife, Heather 'Razzlekhan' Morgan, who pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to defraud the United States, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for her role in laundering the stolen bitcoin. Morgan has stated that she looks forward to debunking myths surrounding their case and telling the real story.
Lichtenstein plans to pursue a career in cybersecurity after serving his time, aiming to utilize his knowledge to combat cyber threats.