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Scrape Timestamp (UTC): 2024-12-10 10:18:36.924
Source: https://www.theregister.com/2024/12/10/bitfinex_bitcoin_heist_netflix/
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Bitfinex heist gets the Netflix treatment after 'cringey couple' sentenced. Streamer's trademark dramatic style takes on Bitcoin Bonnie and Clyde. A documentary examining the 2016 Bitfinex burglars hits Netflix, bringing the curious case to living rooms for the first time. Biggest Heist Ever covers the story of Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, described in the trailer as the "cringey couple" that pulled off a massive digital heist of nearly 120,000 Bitcoin eight years ago. At the time, the stolen tokens were worth around $69 million, although at today's exchange rate, the sum would be north of $11 billion. Of course, The Register had the story first, but Netflix's 87-minute rendition shows behind-the-scenes footage of the couple whom the documentary's marketing team described as the Bitcoin Bonnie and Clyde, all in typical dramatized fashion. Spoiler alert: They didn't get away with it. Lichtenstein was sent to prison last month for five years for masterminding the plot after leaving a marketing startup on bad terms with his co-founder. The court ruled that he roped in Morgan, his girlfriend at the time who he later married in 2019. She was also found guilty of money laundering and fraud charges, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison after already serving 33 months under house arrest. Some may know Morgan better by her surreal online rap alter-ego Razzlekhan. Described in the documentary as producing "the most insane videos," Morgan's music retains her small online following. She just posted a video of a new song she wrote in solitary confinement following her 2022 arrest, which has attracted over 1,000 views in the few hours since going live. Morgan prefaced the reading with a statement about how she was feeling since the case concluded, referencing her anguish at not being able to see her husband for nearly three years outside of a courtroom, although they communicate regularly. "He is my best friend, my partner, the love of my life, and to not see him for that long has definitely been really hard… it's really hard to be apart from the one you love for that long." IRS money laundering investigator Chris Janczewski, who appears as a talking head throughout the documentary, said of Lichtenstein and Morgan: "These were some of the more unique people we encountered." Neither Lichtenstein nor Morgan appear in the documentary, which is available to stream now and has been met with middling reviews. It has a 6.1/10 rating on IMDb and, similarly, the only critic to voice their opinion via Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 3.25/5.
Daily Brief Summary
Netflix has launched a documentary titled "Biggest Heist Ever," about the 2016 theft of nearly 120,000 Bitcoins from Bitfinex by Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan.
At the time of the theft, the stolen Bitcoins were valued at approximately $69 million, a figure that would exceed $11 billion by today's exchange rates.
The film portrays Lichtenstein and Morgan as the modern-day "Bitcoin Bonnie and Clyde," showcasing behind-the-scenes footage and their eventual capture.
Lichtenstein recently received a five-year prison sentence for orchestrating the heist, while Morgan served 18 months in prison following a 33-month house arrest period.
Heather Morgan has maintained a presence online through her rap persona, Razzlekhan, even releasing a new song she composed while in solitary confinement.
The documentary features interviews with IRS investigator Chris Janczewski, who noted the uniqueness of the couple’s profile in cybercrime history.
Despite the dramatic portrayal, the documentary has received lukewarm reviews from audiences and critics, scoring 6.1/10 on IMDb and 3.25/5 from Rotten Tomatoes.