{
  "id": "case-lichtenstein-bitfinex",
  "slug": "us-v-lichtenstein-bitfinex-heist-laundering",
  "title": "U.S. v. Ilya Lichtenstein & Heather Morgan (Bitfinex Hack & Laundering)",
  "summary": "Conviction of Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan for executing the 2016 hack of the Bitfinex virtual currency exchange, stealing 119,754 Bitcoins (valued at $4.5 billion at arrest), and laundering the funds through complex cryptocurrency mixers and darknet markets.",
  "case_number": "1:23-cr-00239",
  "court": "U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia",
  "district": "D.D.C.",
  "country": "United States",
  "opened_at": "2022-02-07",
  "status": "sentenced",
  "victim_sector": "Cryptocurrency Exchanges, Financial Services",
  "victim_country": "United States, Hong Kong",
  "loss_amount_usd": 4500000000,
  "loss_amount_note": "Stole 119,754 Bitcoins from Bitfinex; DOJ recovered 94,000 Bitcoins valued at $3.6 billion in the largest single financial seizure in U.S. history.",
  "first_seen_at": "2016-08-02T00:00:00Z",
  "last_updated_at": "2026-06-15T16:00:00Z",
  "actor_slug": "bitfinex-heist",
  "defendant_slugs": [
    "ilya-lichtenstein",
    "heather-morgan"
  ],
  "cves": [],
  "techniques": [
    {
      "technique_id": "T1078",
      "evidence_excerpt": "Lichtenstein gained access to Bitfinex's internal systems and authorized over 2,000 fraudulent cryptocurrency withdrawal transactions to private wallets.",
      "evidence_locator": "Statement of Offense \u00b6 6, Page 3",
      "mapping_status": "reviewed",
      "mapped_by": "rule",
      "source_title": "Statement of Offense: U.S. v. Lichtenstein",
      "source_url": "https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-individuals-plead-guilty-money-laundering-conspiracies-connection-bitfinex-hack",
      "technique_name": "Valid Accounts",
      "tactic": "Defense Evasion"
    }
  ],
  "events": [
    {
      "event_type": "arrest",
      "event_date": "2022-02-08",
      "description": "Lichtenstein and Morgan arrested in Manhattan by federal agents with recovery of 94,000 Bitcoins."
    },
    {
      "event_type": "plea",
      "event_date": "2023-08-03",
      "description": "Defendants plead guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in D.D.C."
    },
    {
      "event_type": "sentencing",
      "event_date": "2024-11-14",
      "description": "Lichtenstein sentenced to 60 months (5 years) in federal prison; Morgan sentenced to 18 months."
    }
  ]
}