Emily Walker
Ilya Lichtenstein, who admitted guilt last year related to the 2016 heist of around 120,000 Bitcoin from Bitfinex, shared a new statement on Thursday refuting claims of third-party involvement in the hack. This five-minute video on X marks Lichtenstein’s first public remarks since his 2022 arrest, directly challenging assertions made in a Netflix documentary that alleged involvement from his father or other external entities like foreign intelligence agencies.
Claim of Solo Theft by Lichtenstein
In his address, Lichtenstein asserted, “I planned and executed the Bitfinex heist entirely by myself. I take complete responsibility for everything that transpired.” He also dismissed allegations regarding his father’s involvement as “completely false and frankly absurd,” emphasizing that his father, being elderly and technologically illiterate, had no part in any hacking activities.
The Bitfinex hack remains one of the most notable security breaches in cryptocurrency history, with the stolen Bitcoins originally valued at about $72 million, but currently worth over $12.6 billion. Authorities have clarified that Lichtenstein’s wife, Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan, became implicated only afterward, as she has pleaded guilty to money laundering and conspiracy to deceive the U.S.
In the video, Lichtenstein clarified Morgan’s role, saying, “My wife’s guilty plea was for laundering a small fraction of the funds, not for participating in the hack. She was unaware of it for several years.”
Per court statements and Lichtenstein’s plea agreement, he has been working with the authorities to recover the stolen assets. In the video, he reiterated his commitment: “For the past three years, I have diligently worked to return all assets down to the last Satoshi as per my plea agreement. This process is expected to restore more than $10 billion by early next year.”
Lichtenstein openly admitted his misconduct: “I hacked Bitfinex. I stole and laundered thousands of Bitcoin. I deeply regret my actions.” He reflected on his poor decisions throughout the hacking incident and beyond, affirming, “I am solely responsible for the hack.”
Looking ahead to his life post-incarceration, he stated, “Upon my release in about a year, I intend to focus on a career in the cybersecurity field.” He feels his past as a hacker gives him a valuable perspective: “No one understands a hacker’s mindset better than someone who’s been one… I recognize the cyber threats we face and how to mitigate them.”
Lichtenstein encouraged Netflix viewers to consult publicly accessible court documents for a clearer understanding of the case: “You don’t need to rely solely on my statements. The court documents detailing the facts are available for anyone to read and draw their own conclusions.”
As of the time of this report, neither Bitfinex nor Netflix had responded to Lichtenstein’s video.
Currently, Bitcoin is trading at $102,371.