US Government Issues Statement on $4 Billion Bitcoin Hack

The US government has said Bitfinex may be the sole victim of the 2016 hack by Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, but it is still asking the court to provide Bitfinex customers with an opportunity to file claims.

The information comes from a recent filing by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.

“The government is not aware of any person who qualifies as a victim under the CVRA [Crime Victims Rights Act] or who has received compensation under the MVRA [Mandatory Victim Compensation Act] beyond perhaps Bitfinex,” the filing said. Both Lichtenstein, Morgan, and Bitfinex’s parent company, iFinex, have alleged that Bitfinex was the sole victim of the 2016 hack.

Following the hack, iFinex offered its customers several options, including selling Bitfinex-issued tokens known as BFX on the open market or exchanging them for cash or iFinex shares, among other alternatives. The filing notes that as of April 3, 2017, all BFX tokens had been fully redeemed by customers.

Despite this, the government is proceeding “prudently” and is attempting to provide Bitfinex account holders with the opportunity to submit potential claims prior to sentencing. The government has sought court approval to use multiple notification methods to reach affected customers, including posting information on the Justice Department’s website.

Lichtenstein and Morgan, also known by his rapper nickname “Razzlekhan,” pleaded guilty in August 2023 to conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with the 2016 hack. The duo was accused of conspiring to launder 119,754 Bitcoins (BTC) stolen during the breach, worth an estimated $71 million at the time, according to the government.

*This is not investment advice.