2026-01-02 16:20:24

The 2016 Bitfinex theft that shocked the industry has new developments. The main culprit, Ilya Lichtenstein, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for laundering nearly 120,000 bitcoins, but he has been granted early release. Reports indicate that this was made possible by the reform mechanisms of the US federal legal system, which allow inmates to earn reductions through participation in specific programs.

Of particular note is the scale of the case—the 120,000 bitcoins at the time of the incident were valued at approximately $4.5 billion, making it one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in history. Interestingly, Lichtenstein's wife, Heather Morgan (social media nickname Razzlekhan), was sentenced to 18 months for assisting in criminal activities and was officially released in October 2025.

This case, from its outbreak in 2016 to its current judicial conclusion, spans nearly a decade and reflects ongoing law enforcement efforts to combat crime in the crypto space. It also serves as a reminder to market participants that no theft is beyond legal punishment in the end.

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nft_widow

· 01-05 16:17

120,000 Bitcoins, how exciting... but they still didn't escape. These two really dare to do it, stealing so much and still daring to launder. It feels like they are betting on law enforcement response being slow. Razzlekhan is out? That's hilarious, that name is really clever. 4.5 billion USD, just thinking about it is crazy, but indeed, RMB shouldn't have trusted this kind of thing from the start. Releasing early, for the US's reform project, is it considered escaping or what? The fate of married criminal pairs is like this, worth pondering. Laundered nearly 120,000, exchanged for 5 years, does this account add up, everyone?

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LiquidationTherapist

· 01-05 14:13

120,000 Bitcoins, that must be so awesome... Turns out I still have to go in, haha Razzlekhan is out of prison? These two are really legendary criminals in the crypto world, hilarious Is the sentence reduction mechanism this effective? I'll remember it next time 4.5 billion USD just gone like that, oh my god, if it were me, I would have already given up Wait, she only served a few years and is out? Are American prisons this lenient?

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AmateurDAOWatcher

· 01-04 17:19

120,000 Bitcoins, 4.5 billion USD was lost back then, and now no one dares to calculate how much it's worth now. Can they still release them early? The loopholes in US law are just too big. I remember that Razzlekhan Twitter account, it's outrageous, they could launder money for so long before getting caught. This incident actually serves as a warning to us: no matter how dark the crypto world is, it can't escape the final judgment. It's been ten years since that case, and it's still ongoing. It truly proves the saying — the net of justice is vast but not missing anything.

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PumpingCroissant

· 01-04 16:13

It's only been a few years? 120,000 Bitcoins. How much is it worth now?

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AirdropHarvester

· 01-02 16:50

120,000 BTC? Did this guy just come out like that? Razzlekhan, the "Shovel Queen," is also out. LOL, this is American justice. Really, this case in the crypto world has been going on for so many years and keeps being discussed. What does that say? Five years to wash out 120,000 coins. What is the current price? I dare not imagine. The key is how these two people can still be active online. I don't understand.

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CodeSmellHunter

· 01-02 16:42

Bro, this couple is too awesome. They can mine 120,000 Bitcoins and still get out of prison early? Damn, is Razzlekhan real? Her social media nickname sounds like a rapper. $4.5 billion. At the current price, how many times would it multiply? Legal reform project? Seems a bit shady. If it were me, I’d definitely want to join. It took ten years to finish this case. The efficiency is truly unmatched. But on the other hand, no matter how cunning, you can't escape. That’s a bit harsh. The woman was out in 18 months, way more comfortable than the man. How much was that coin worth back then? Feels like if it had been held until now, it would have made a fortune.

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HashRateHermit

· 01-02 16:39

120,000 Bitcoins, really incredible. This guy was caught laundering money and still got a reduced sentence? The US legal system is quite interesting. Razzlekhan is also quite something. Her social media handle is so flashy, and she still managed to launder money? I’m truly impressed. They should have been sent to prison long ago, but now they’re out again. Feels a bit unfair? This case has been dragging on for ten years. Back then, it was 4.5 billion USD. How much is it now? Just thinking about it is crazy. So these two are free again? Kinda scary. Such a big case, and it ended like this? To survive such a theft and even get early parole—this life experience is definitely one of a kind. Revisiting this case ten years later, it seems that crypto regulation really isn’t as lax as before.

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NftDeepBreather

· 01-02 16:35

120,000 BTC. This guy still didn't escape; the law is vast and inexorable. --- Wait, only 5 years for release? That's a pretty harsh reduction. --- Razzlekhan's nickname is quite bold, but he still ended up inside haha. --- $4.5 billion. That must have been so exciting back then. What's the status of these coins now? --- It took ten years to catch up. Luckily, there's blockchain, or else it would be impossible to trace. --- I just want to know who currently holds those 120,000 coins. Were they confiscated? --- What is this case warning us about? No matter how advanced the technology is, it can't escape the system, brother. --- The case from 2016 has been dragging on until now. Law enforcement efficiency is truly remarkable. --- Hey, his wife was released last October? The timeline doesn't match up. --- Almost 120,000 coins laundered with only a 5-year sentence. Was the punishment too light?

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