Amazon to Produce Film on Bitfinex Hack

Amazon MGM Studios has commenced production of a feature film titled Razzlekhan, which will depict the story of the 2016 Bitfinex cryptocurrency exchange hack involving 120,000 BTC. This was reported by Deadline.

The film is based on a 2022 New York Times article about the couple Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, who are accused of laundering the stolen funds.

Hannah Marks will serve as both director and screenwriter. The film’s title reflects Morgan’s rap alias.

In February 2022, U.S. authorities arrested the couple and seized bitcoins worth $3.6 billion. That same month, Morgan was released on a $3 million bail, while Lichtenstein remained in custody.

By August 2023, the couple admitted guilt to conspiracy to launder money. Morgan faces up to 10 years in prison, while Lichtenstein could face up to 20 years. Lichtenstein denies involvement in the Bitfinex hack.

Court documents reveal that Lichtenstein accessed the exchange’s network using “advanced hacking tools.” He conducted over 2,000 transactions, transferring 119,754 BTC from the exchange to a personal wallet. Subsequently, he deleted access credentials and other log files.

Together with his wife, they laundered the funds through various methods—from using fictitious identities and mixing services to opening business accounts and purchasing gold coins.

In 2022, Netflix announced a documentary series about Morgan and Lichtenstein, directed by Chris Smith (“FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened”).