US DOJ Seizes $3.6 Billion Worth in Bitcoin Linked to 2016 Bitfinex Hack

The largest ever financial seizure of cryptocurrencies by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), has been launched by the US Department of Justice.

According to Washington Post the authorities confiscated $3.6 billion of digital assets in connection to a hack on Bitfinex’s crypto exchange Bitfinex. This hack was reported by The Washington Post .

Ilya Lichtenstein (34), and Heather Morgan (31), were both arrested and charged with conspiring and laundering money. In reality, the hacking incident saw the threat actors use a series 2,000 unauthorised transactions to steal 119,754 Bitcoin ( Bitcoin).

Arrest People Claimed to Have Only Spent a Portion Of the Stolen BTC

The heist was robbed of approximately 94,000 BTC by the feds.

“Cryptocurrency does not provide a safe haven for criminals. The department once more showed that it can and will pursue the money no matter what form it takes. This was thanks to the meticulous work done by law enforcement’ Lisa O. Monaco (Deputy Attorney General) commented on the operation.

According to the profiles of people of interest in the investigation Lichtenstein claimed to be an “angel investor” and hold both US and Russian citizenship. Authorities also stated that the couple claimed that they only spent a fraction of the money.

Bitfinex released a statement following the announcement, stating that it had been cooperating with the DOJ extensively since the investigation began. The exchange also stated that it would use ‘appropriate legal procedures’ to recover the stolen Bitcoin.

Stolen funds moved early this month

FXEmpire reported that part of the stolen Bitcoins from 2016 Bitfinex hack was recently transferred anonymously to an unknown wallet.

Whale Alert tweeted that transfers began with smaller amounts and the first transfer was worth 1 BTC. The next transfer of 10,000 BTC (equivalent to $383,540.711) was sent quickly to an unknown wallet.