Bitfinex hacker addresses public from prison: “I hate myself”

Ilya Lichtenstein, 35, known as the Bitfinex hacker, made his first public appearance since his arrest by recording a video call from prison.

In a five-minute monologue, he regretted his crime, which sent him to prison for five years, saying he knew what he was doing was wrong but did it anyway because "he didn't care about anyone else except himself."

"I hate myself," the hacker said, noting that he can't change the past.

Lichtenstein also denied allegations made in a recent Netflix documentary that claimed he didn't act alone and was possibly helped by his father. According to the hacker, his father "doesn't even know how to use Instagram."

"Believe me, I'm more than capable of hacking a crypto exchange by myself," he said, adding that his days of malicious hacking are over and he could use his skills in the cybersecurity industry.

"Because no one knows the dark web better than someone who spent years navigating it," the hacker said, stressing that only hackers understand how hackers think. He plans to dedicate himself to working in the cybersecurity industry once he's released.

He also stated that his wife, Heather "Razzlekhan" Morgan, was also a victim of his "bad decisions." Morgan was sentenced to 18 months in prison for helping her husband launder the stolen money. The hacker claims his wife didn't know about the hack "for years."

I have something to say#FreeRazzlekhan pic.twitter.com/9HIvOxcbgr

undefined Ilya Lichtenstein (@unrealdutch) December 19, 2024

Meanwhile, Lichtenstein also claimed that, for the past three years, he has "worked hard to account for and return all assets down to the last satoshi" and that he will continue to do so. The hearing regarding the restitution of the stolen assets to the crypto exchange and its customers is set for February 2025. According to Lichtenstein, it's expected that more than $10 billion will be returned in the first quarter of next year.

As reported by Cybernews, the 119,754 BTC that were stolen were worth $72 million at the time of the theft in 2016 but are valued at more than $11 billion today. Law enforcement seized most of the funds or 94,643 BTC.