Can Ahmet 
A US court has ruled that the Bitcoins stolen during the 2016 hack of the Bitfinex exchange will be returned directly to Bitfinex. This decision was made as part of the case involving defendants who pleaded guilty to money laundering and conspiracy charges.
Value of Stolen Bitcoins from Hack Has Multiplied
The approximately 120,000 Bitcoin seized during the hack was worth $71 million at the time. However, when the US Department of Justice seized these assets in 2022, their value had increased to $3.6 billion. Today, the total value of these Bitcoins has reached approximately $12 billion.
Recovery Process and Developments
On July 6, 2023, Bitfinex received $312,219.71 in cash and 6,917 BCH from the US Department of Homeland Security. These funds will be used to repay the “Recovery Right Tokens” offered to investors following the attack.
On October 25, 2020, concerns arose when approximately $20 million worth of crypto was moved from wallets under US government control.
Legal Process and Status of Defendants
Defendants Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan were sentenced in November 2024 after pleading guilty to money laundering charges. Since their arrest in February 2022, authorities have recovered approximately $10 billion worth of stolen assets. Other seized assets will be subject to separate processes.
Also, you can freely share your thoughts and comments about the topic in the comment section. Additionally, please follow us on our Telegram, YouTube and Twitter channels for the latest news and updates.