Billion-Dollar Bitcoin Hacker Ilya Lichtenstein Released, Thanks Trump

Ilya Lichtenstein, the hacker responsible for laundering funds from the massive 2016 Bitfinex Bitcoin theft, has been released from prison just over a year into his five-year sentence. Lichtenstein credited his early release to the First Step Act, a criminal justice reform law signed by former President Donald Trump. Lichtenstein pleaded guilty in November 2024 to money laundering conspiracy related to the theft of nearly 120,000 BTC. His wife, Heather Morgan, who was also charged for laundering the stolen funds and received an 18-month sentence, was released earlier in October. The couple was arrested in 2022 following a federal investigation that led to the seizure of a significant portion of the stolen Bitcoin. After sentencing, Lichtenstein confessed but attempted to take full blame, claiming his wife was uninvolved in the hack itself. This early release follows other high-profile clemency actions by Trump, who has also indicated he will review the case of Samourai Wallet co-founder Keonne Rodriguez.

(Source：Cointelegraph)