U.S. Transfers 8.2 BTC From Bitfinex Seizure to Coinbase

On Thursday, addresses linked to U.S. authorities moved 8.2 bitcoin tied to the 2016 Bitfinex hack to a Coinbase Prime wallet, according to blockchain data analyzed by Arkham Intelligence. The coins were worth about $628,000 at the time of transfer.

The transfer originated from an address connected to government holdings. Those coins last moved two years ago when another government-controlled address placed them into a wallet Arkham labeled as holdings from the Bitfinex hacker. A Department of Justice representative did not immediately reply to requests for comment, and officials have not disclosed any plan for the funds.

The 8.2 BTC represents a small portion of more than 94,000 bitcoin recovered in the investigation, assets now valued at over $7.2 billion. The original theft removed 119,754 BTC, equivalent to roughly $9.18 billion at current prices.

Federal authorities seized the holdings during the probe and prosecution of Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan. The pair reached a plea agreement in 2023 that included forfeiture of remaining proceeds from the theft. Lichtenstein pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced in 2024 to five years in prison. Morgan received an 18-month federal sentence; both were later released early and Morgan publicly credited former President Donald Trump for shortening her sentence.

Coinbase Prime is the company’s institutional trading and custody service used by hedge funds, family offices and other large holders to manage digital-asset positions. Transfers of seized cryptocurrency into exchange accounts are frequently monitored by market participants and blockchain analysts for possible trading activity.