Bitfinex Hack Mastermind Released Early Thanks to Criminal Justice Reform

Ilya Lichtenstein, the individual responsible for one of the most significant thefts in cryptocurrency history, has been released from prison ahead of schedule. He was originally sentenced to five years behind bars for his role in the 2016 hack of the Bitfinex exchange.

Lichtenstein served approximately 14 months of his sentence before regaining his freedom. His early release is attributed to the First Step Act, a criminal justice reform bill signed into law by Donald Trump in 2018 during his first term as president.

Taking to social media platform X, Lichtenstein confirmed his release and expressed his gratitude toward the former president for the legislation that allowed him to return home sooner than expected. He also addressed both his supporters and detractors in his public statement.

The hacker stated his intention to pivot his career toward a legitimate path, claiming he remains committed to making a positive contribution to the field of cybersecurity. He emphasized that he looks forward to proving his critics wrong as he moves forward with his life.

Lichtenstein admitted to laundering roughly 120,000 Bitcoin that was stolen during the breach, a hoard that was valued at billions of dollars at the time of his arrest. His wife and co-conspirator, Heather Morgan, known by her rapper alias “Razzlekhan,” was also released early in late 2025.

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