$314K from 2016 Bitfinex attack returned by US Homeland Security

The digital currency exchange known as Bitfinex said on July 6 that it has been given $312,219.71 in cash together with 6.917 Bitcoin Cash by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

The seizure was carried out with the assistance of the United States Customs and Border Protection Service.

The stolen assets will be refunded to the Bitfinex customers who were affected by the breach in 2016 on a proportional basis.

After holders of Unus Sed Leo (LEO), Bitfinex’s native token, have had their RRTs redeemed with the recovered assets, the remaining funds will be distributed to those who possess Unus Sed Leo.

Bitfinex had a security breach in 2016, which resulted in the loss of Bitcoin belonging to 119,576 clients. These Bitcoin were valued around $70 million at the time but are now worth $3.7 billion.

Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, his wife, were taken into custody by the United States Department of Justice on February 8, 2022. The two were reportedly involved in a conspiracy to launder cryptocurrency that was tied to the breach.

Efforts to retrieve the monies are still under progress at this time.