Hackers de Bitcoin roubam 10 bilhões em apenas 14 meses! Caso Bitfinex, libertação de Trump gera polémica

Bitfinex Hacker Mastermind Ilya Lichtenstein Released After 14 Months, Thanks Trump’s First Step Act. 119,754 BTC stolen from Bitfinex in 2016 (now worth over $10 billion), 94,000 recovered, 25,000 missing. Netflix documentary reveals the bizarre lives of the two, sparking judicial controversy.

119,754 BTC Cross-Border Theft: The Full Story

In August 2016, cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex was hacked, with approximately 119,754 bitcoins stolen, valued at about $71 million at the time; calculated at today’s prices, the value exceeds $10 billion, making it one of the largest bitcoin thefts in history. The case remained unsolved for years until February 2022, when the U.S. Department of Justice arrested Lichtenstein and Morgan, finally revealing the full scope of this multi-year crime involving a complex money laundering network.

Lichtenstein admitted to hacking the Bitfinex system and orchestrating long-term money laundering operations, converting some bitcoins into other crypto assets and physical coins. This criminal couple appeared to be just an eccentric New York couple living absurd lives, yet they could remotely control the Bitfinex exchange in Hong Kong—their sophisticated methods shocked law enforcement. According to investigations, approximately 94,000 bitcoins have been recovered by U.S. authorities, with about 25,000 bitcoins still missing. In January 2025, U.S. prosecutors filed a motion requesting the return of recovered bitcoins to Bitfinex.

The Netflix documentary “Biggest Heist Ever” revealed the duo’s double lives. They frequently posted absurd videos on Instagram, from rap performances to bizarre selfies, appearing to be just marginalized content creators obsessed with social media. Morgan, under the stage name Razzlekhan, called herself “Crocodile Bezos,” posting low-cost hip-hop videos and building a ridiculous public image on social media.

Three Major Mysteries in the Bitfinex Bitcoin Heist

Father as Puppet Master Theory: Documentary whistleblowers suggest Lichtenstein’s father is a feared figure in hacking circles and may be the real mastermind behind the scenes

Whereabouts of 25,000 BTC: The recovered 94,000 bitcoins account for only 78.5% of the total, leaving the remainder’s location a mystery

Wife’s Level of Involvement: Lichtenstein repeatedly emphasized his wife didn’t participate in the hacking, only in subsequent fund transfers, but her 18-month sentence raises questions

Early Release After 14 Months Ignites Judicial Justice Controversy

In November 2024, Lichtenstein was sentenced to five years in prison for money laundering conspiracy and other charges. However, he was recently released early after serving only 14 months, sparking strong controversy in the cryptocurrency community. He attributed his early release to President Trump’s signing of the First Step Act during his term.

The First Step Act is a 2018 prison and sentencing reform legislation signed by Trump, aimed at reducing prison time for non-violent offenders, lowering recidivism rates, and saving taxpayers money. The act allows some inmates to be released early for good behavior or meeting certain conditions, with Lichtenstein being one of the beneficiaries.

After his release, Lichtenstein posted on X: “Thank you President Trump for signing the First Step Act, which allowed me to regain my freedom early. I will contribute positively to the cybersecurity field in the future. Thank you to my supporters; to my critics, I will prove you wrong.” This statement immediately sparked polarized reactions.

Some people on social media congratulated him on his freedom, arguing he had been punished and cooperated with investigations to recover most of the stolen funds, deserving a second chance. However, more people harshly criticized this lenient sentence. An on-chain investigator on X sarcastically created a meme suggesting “crime is legal,” implying the absurdity of stealing $10 billion in assets yet serving only 14 months.

Morgan was arrested simultaneously with her husband in 2022 and sentenced to 18 months, serving approximately 8 months before being released in October 2024. Lichtenstein repeatedly emphasized his wife didn’t participate in the hacking, only in subsequent fund transfers. However, Morgan’s high-profile hip-hop performances and conspicuous displays of wealth on social media have raised public questions about her role.

Trump’s Pardon Controversy and Crypto Justice Standards

Lichtenstein’s release comes as Trump faces controversy for exercising pardon powers in multiple cryptocurrency-related cases. Though Lichtenstein himself wasn’t pardoned but rather released early through the First Step Act, Trump has since pardoned Silk Road founder Ulbricht, BitMEX co-founder, and Binance founder CZ, among others, leading the public to question whether the U.S. justice system is being too lenient on cryptocurrency crimes.

Will such judicial leniency encourage more crypto crimes? Critics argue that stealing $10 billion in assets yet serving only 14 months severely violates the principle of proportionality in sentencing. Supporters counter that Lichtenstein actively cooperated with investigations, helped recover most stolen funds, and the First Step Act aims to give non-violent offenders a second chance—this should be distinguished from Trump’s political pardons.

From the absurd daily lives captured by Netflix cameras to the century’s heist shaking global financial order, the Bitfinex bitcoin hacking incident reflects the strange and wondrous world of cryptocurrency, while also prompting deeper reflection on judicial justice, technological ethics, and power dynamics. The Netflix documentary “Biggest Heist Ever” is translated as “The Strongest Crypto Scam: Hacker Lovebirds” in Hong Kong and “The Greatest Money Laundering Heist: The Crypto-Currency Lovebird Thieves” in Taiwan, and is currently still available to watch.