The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a website to gather information from individuals affected by the 2016 Bitfinex hack, where approximately 120,000
BTC
were stolen. The site provides a platform for potential victims to assert their rights under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA) and submit statements detailing their losses. In 2016, defendant Ilya Lichtenstein hacked Bitfinex and, with his wife Heather Rhiannon Morgan, laundered the stolen funds through complex schemes involving cryptocurrency mixers, darknet markets, and foreign bank accounts. The DOJ arrested both defendants in 2022. Both Lichtenstein and Morgan pleaded guilty in August 2023, with sentencing scheduled for Nov. 14 and 15, 2024, respectively. Impacted individuals are invited to submit statements to the DOJ by Nov. 13, 2024, which may be used during sentencing. The DOJ encourages Bitfinex accountholders to share any details on how the crime affected them.
