The Netflix documentary *Biggest Heist Ever* reveals the story of a seemingly absurd couple who, in reality, have shaped the history of global cryptocurrency theft . In 2016, the Bitfinex exchange was hacked, and the two suspects in what became the largest Bitcoin heist in history—Ilya Lichtenstein and his wife, hip-hop artist Heather Morgan (Razzlekhan)—were able to remotely control the Bitfinex exchange from New York, stealing approximately 119,754 Bitcoins (BTC). Now, thanks to a Trump pardon, Lichtenstein has been released on parole and posted a message on Twitter thanking Trump and stating he would contribute to internet security. This turn of events is more bizarre than any Hollywood movie. Furthermore, the whistleblower in the documentary points out that Lichtenstein's father is a feared figure in the hacking world, suggesting that perhaps his father is the mastermind behind the heist. Lichtenstein's early release on parole and subsequent thank-you message to Trump has reignited public discussion and brought back memories of this bizarre case.
Bitfinex exchange was hacked and 119,754 bitcoins were stolen.
Netflix documentary Biggest Heist Ever presents the extravagant lifestyle of the two men in New York: they frequently post nonsensical videos on Instagram, from rap performances to bizarre selfies, seemingly just fringe creators addicted to social media, but secretly they are closely connected to a cryptocurrency theft that occurred in distant Hong Kong and shocked the global financial world.
In August 2016, the cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex was hacked, resulting in the theft of approximately 119,754 bitcoins, worth about $71 million at the time; at today's prices, this would be worth over $10 billion, making it one of the largest bitcoin thefts in history. The case remained unsolved for many years until February 2022, when the U.S. Department of Justice arrested Lichtenstein and Morgan, finally revealing the full picture of this multi-year crime involving a complex money laundering network.
94,000 bitcoins have been recovered by US authorities.
Lichtenstein admitted to hacking into Bitfinex's system and orchestrating a long-term money laundering operation, converting some of his Bitcoin into other crypto assets and physical gold coins. According to the investigation, approximately 94,000 Bitcoins have been recovered by US authorities, while the whereabouts of about 25,000 Bitcoins remain unknown. In January 2025, US prosecutors filed a motion demanding the return of the recovered Bitcoins to Bitfinex.
In November 2024, Lichtenstein was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering and other crimes. However, he was recently released early after serving only 14 months. He attributed this to the First Step Act, the first law signed by President Trump during his presidency.
Lichtenstein thanks Trump for his first bill
After his release from prison, Lichtenstein posted on X , thanking President Trump for signing the First Injunction, which allowed him to regain his freedom early. He also declared his intention to make positive contributions to the field of cybersecurity. He thanked his supporters and told his critics that he would prove them wrong.
The first bill is the Prisons and Sentencing Reform Act, signed by Trump in 2018. It aims to reduce the time served by non-violent offenders, lower recidivism rates, and save taxpayers money. The bill allows some inmates to be released early for good behavior or other eligible reasons; Lichtenstein is one such beneficiary.
However, his early release sparked intense controversy within the cryptocurrency community. Some congratulated him on his newfound freedom on social media platforms, while others offered harsh criticism. One on-chain investigator sarcastically created a meme on X stating, "Crime is legal."
Morgan was arrested along with her husband in 2022 and sentenced to 18 months in prison, serving approximately eight months before being released in October 2024. Lichtenstein has repeatedly emphasized that his wife did not participate in the hacking activities, but was only involved in the subsequent handling of funds.
Lichtenstein's release comes amid controversy surrounding Trump's exercise of his pardon power in several cryptocurrency-related cases. While Lichtenstein himself was not pardoned, Trump's subsequent pardons of Silk Road founder Ulbricht, BitMEX co-founder, and Binance founder CZ(CZ) have raised questions about whether the US judicial system is overly lenient towards cryptocurrency crimes. From the absurd everyday life captured on Netflix to the century-defining hack that shook the global financial order, the Bitfinex hack reflects the bizarre phenomena of the cryptocurrency world and sparks deep reflection on judicial justice, technological ethics, and the operation of power.
The documentary Biggest Heist Ever, translated as "The Most Powerful Crypto Scam: Hacker Couple" in Hong Kong and "The Most Powerful Gold Laundering Heist: Cryptocurrency Couple Thieves" in Taiwan on Netflix, is still available to watch. Readers interested in this case can take a glimpse into the dual lives of this hacker couple as they navigate between reality and crime.
This article, "The protagonist of the Bitfinex Bitcoin hack case was released from prison early and posted a message thanking Trump for his benevolent policies," first appeared on ABMedia, a ABMedia .
