The 2016 Bitfinex exchange Bitcoin theft case has once again drawn attention. Hacker Ilya Lichtenstein was sentenced in November 2024 for assisting in money laundering of nearly 120,000 Bitcoins (worth approximately $4.5 billion at the time of the incident). However, he was recently released early. This turning point is closely related to a U.S. federal law—the First Step Act. This legislation allows inmates to earn sentence reductions through participation in rehabilitation programs. Lichtenstein achieved a shortened sentence through this mechanism. This case highlights the severity of security issues in crypto assets. The theft once shocked the entire crypto community and also served as a reminder for exchanges and users to strengthen asset protection. At the same time, it demonstrates the ongoing tracking capabilities of law enforcement agencies regarding digital asset crimes—even after many years, hackers still find it difficult to escape the law.
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WagmiOrRekt
· 4h ago
Wow, this guy really just came out with 120,000 Bitcoins? How much is that worth now?
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pumpamentalist
· 5h ago
This guy laundered 4.5 billion and got out early. That's outrageous. Are US laws this lenient?
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DAOTruant
· 5h ago
Wait, this guy just got out after a few years? 4.5 billion USD? That's just too outrageous.
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ChainSherlockGirl
· 5h ago
Huh? This guy just came out directly? 120,000 Bitcoins, bro. How much is that worth now... Based on my analysis, I guess he did a lot of studying in prison, maybe even participated in some reform programs. Is that how he got his sentence reduced? The US legal system is really top-notch.
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MEVHunterLucky
· 5h ago
Wow, only a few years off and he's already out on reduced sentence? This law is a bit lenient.
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CryptoSurvivor
· 5h ago
Wait, this guy just served a few years and he's out? A case worth 4.5 billion USD gets reduced just like that? The law is really too outrageous.
The 2016 Bitfinex exchange Bitcoin theft case has once again drawn attention. Hacker Ilya Lichtenstein was sentenced in November 2024 for assisting in money laundering of nearly 120,000 Bitcoins (worth approximately $4.5 billion at the time of the incident). However, he was recently released early. This turning point is closely related to a U.S. federal law—the First Step Act. This legislation allows inmates to earn sentence reductions through participation in rehabilitation programs. Lichtenstein achieved a shortened sentence through this mechanism. This case highlights the severity of security issues in crypto assets. The theft once shocked the entire crypto community and also served as a reminder for exchanges and users to strengthen asset protection. At the same time, it demonstrates the ongoing tracking capabilities of law enforcement agencies regarding digital asset crimes—even after many years, hackers still find it difficult to escape the law.