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Ilya Lichtenstein, the hacker behind the 2016 Bitfinex bitcoin breach, has been released early from a U.S. federal prison. He walked free on January 2, 2026, after serving just under one year of his five-year sentence.

The early release was approved under sentence reduction rules linked to President Donald Trump’s First Step Act, a prison reform law aimed at reducing jail time for non-violent offenders who show good behavior and complete rehabilitation programs.

Inside the $10 Billion Bitfinex Bitcoin Hack

Lichtenstein was responsible for one of the largest crypto thefts ever recorded. In 2016, he stole nearly 120,000 BTC from Bitfinex by exploiting weaknesses in the exchange’s internal authorization systems.

According to court records, he carried out more than 2,000 illegal transactions, slowly moving the stolen bitcoin into wallets he controlled. At today’s prices, the stolen funds are worth over $10 billion.

U.S. authorities later recovered most of the bitcoin. Lichtenstein pleaded guilty and admitted that he acted alone in executing the hack.

How the First Step Act Reduced His Sentence

The First Step Act, signed into law in 2018, allows federal inmates to earn time credits by joining work, education, and rehabilitation programs.

Because Lichtenstein’s conviction was for money laundering conspiracy, a non-violent offense, he qualified for these credits. This made him eligible for release far earlier than his original sentence required.

Crypto Crime and Accountability Under Scrutiny

Lichtenstein’s release has sparked fresh debate across the crypto industry about punishment, fairness, and deterrence.

His case follows several high-profile crypto-related clemency decisions since Donald Trump returned to office. These include:

The pardon of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht

Sentence relief for Arthur Hayes and three other BitMEX co-founders

A pardon for Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, who had pleaded guilty to compliance failures tied to money laundering

Together, these moves have raised concerns about whether enforcement is being applied evenly across the crypto sector.

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Critics say letting major offenders out early could weaken deterrence at a time when crypto scams and hacks remain widespread. They warn it may send the wrong message to bad actors.

Supporters argue that rewarding rehabilitation encourages reform and creates a more balanced justice system, especially for non-violent crimes.

From Court Case to Viral Attention

The Bitfinex case also drew public attention for an unusual reason. Lichtenstein’s wife, Heather Morgan, became widely known after videos of her eccentric rap persona resurfaced following their arrest.

Since her release, Morgan has returned to making music. Lichtenstein, meanwhile, has said he plans to move into cybersecurity and focus on lawful work.

Lichtenstein’s early release highlights how crypto-related crimes are now shaped not only by courts but also by political decisions and legal reforms.

As the industry continues to grow, his case adds to the ongoing debate over justice, reform, and accountability in the digital asset space.

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Filed under: Bitcoin - @ January 3, 2026 7:27 am