---
title: "Bitfinex hacker Ilya Lichtenstein is out of prison early"
description: "Lichtenstein, convicted over the theft tied to $3.6 billion in seized bitcoin, says he was released early under the First Step Act."
url: https://kurddevelopers.com/en/news/bitfinex-hacker-lichtenstein-early-release
language: en # English
type: news
published: 2026-01-03T19:45:00.000Z
updated: 2026-11-01T22:16:59.000Z
author: "Osamah Ismail"
author_url: https://kurddevelopers.com/en/author/1
section: "Fintech"
tags: ["Bitfinex","Bitcoin","crypto","hack"]
sources: ["TechCrunch","CNBC","US Department of Justice"]
image: https://kurddevelopers.com/uploads/2026/11/home-0d7da203.png
translations:
  ku: https://kurddevelopers.com/news/bitfinex-hacker-lichtenstein-early-release
  ar: https://kurddevelopers.com/ar/news/bitfinex-hacker-lichtenstein-early-release
publisher: Kurd Developers
publisher_url: https://kurddevelopers.com/
---

# Bitfinex hacker Ilya Lichtenstein is out of prison early

> Lichtenstein, convicted over the theft tied to $3.6 billion in seized bitcoin, says he was released early under the First Step Act.

![Image: Bitfinex](https://kurddevelopers.com/uploads/2026/11/home-0d7da203.png)

**Ilya Lichtenstein**, convicted in the **Bitfinex** hack case, announced on X that he has been **released early from prison**.

## What he said

He wrote that he was out early "thanks to President Trump's First Step Act", a prison reform law from Trump's first term, and that he remains committed to making a positive impact in cybersecurity.

An administration official told CNBC he is **on home confinement**.

## The heist

- In 2022 the US Justice Department arrested Lichtenstein and his wife **Heather Morgan**
- Authorities seized **$3.6 billion** in stolen bitcoin
- He pleaded guilty to money laundering and was sentenced to **five years**
- Netflix made a documentary about them: **Biggest Heist Ever**

It is unclear whether the administration played a direct role in his release.

**Sources:** TechCrunch, CNBC, US Department of Justice

---

Published by [Kurd Developers](https://kurddevelopers.com/) on 2026-01-03. Cite as: “Bitfinex hacker Ilya Lichtenstein is out of prison early”, Kurd Developers, https://kurddevelopers.com/en/news/bitfinex-hacker-lichtenstein-early-release