Ilya Lichtenstein Addresses Bitfinex Heist and Family Implications

Ilya Lichtenstein, the confessed Bitfinex hacker, clarified in his first public comments since sentencing that his wife, Heather Morgan, and father, Eugene Lichtenstein, had no involvement in the 2016 theft of 120,000 bitcoin. In a five-minute prison video posted on X, he emphasized that he acted alone and is solely responsible for the crime.

> “I planned and executed the Bitfinex heist entirely by myself. And I am the one who bears full responsibility for everything that has happened,” Lichtenstein stated, having pled guilty the previous year.

He specifically denied any allegations against his father, describing them as false and absurd. This comes after Eugene was implicated in the 2024 documentary Biggest Heist Ever, which also accused him of hacking a bank in 2005.

Heather Morgan, known as rapper Razzlekhan, shared Lichtenstein’s video, defending him against claims made in the documentary. Although Morgan pleaded guilty to laundering a small amount of bitcoin, Lichtenstein asserted she was unaware of the crime, which occurred two years after they met.

Lichtenstein expressed remorse for his actions: “It’s true. I hacked Bitfinex. I stole and laundered thousands of bitcoin. And I am so sorry for everything.” He described his partner as another victim of his poor decisions, stating, “I hate myself. I can’t change the past but I can and will do everything I can to make amends.”

For the past three years, he has aided the government in recovering the stolen assets, now valued at approximately $12 billion. This restitution process is projected to return over $10 billion by early next year, with a hearing in February deciding asset distribution to Bitfinex or its customers.

Lichtenstein is also looking to transition into cybersecurity. Drawing from his experiences, he commented, “My days of malicious hacking are over. Long years in federal prison are a powerful deterrent.” He has already contributed to government efforts by testifying against Roman Sterlingov, the alleged operator of crypto mixer Bitcoin Fog, who was sentenced to 12.5 years.

The seizure of the stolen Bitfinex coins — approximately $4 billion worth at the time — remains the largest in U.S. history. Lichtenstein and Morgan’s sentencing dates were postponed due to their cooperation with authorities.

> “I know the cyber threats that we face and I know how to stop them,” Lichtenstein concluded.