Ilya Lichtenstein, at the heart of a colossal 2016 crypto theft valued in the billions at the time, announced online on Thursday that he has been released from prison and has reformed his ways.
Writing on LinkedIn, Lichtenstein shared, “Ten years ago, I decided to hack the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world,” recounting a period when his startup was struggling financially, prompting him to resort to theft.
“This was a terrible idea. It was the worst thing I had ever done,” he admitted. “It disrupted my life, the lives of those close to me, and affected thousands of users of the exchange. I know I let down many of those who believed in me and gravely misused my talents.”
In 2023, Lichtenstein and his wife, Heather Morgan, confessed to a money laundering conspiracy stemming from a daring 2016 plot to steal 120,000 bitcoins (currently valued over $10 billion) from Bitfinex, a cryptocurrency exchange. The couple was apprehended at their Manhattan residence in 2022.
Following his arrest, Lichtenstein cooperated with authorities by assisting in the recovery of the stolen assets and aiding in “various crypto cases.” He expressed that he found satisfaction in working alongside the government.