Billion-dollar Bitcoin hacker thanks Trump for early prison release

Ilya Lichtenstein, a notorious hacker who was sentenced to five years in prison for stealing billions of dollars in Bitcoin, has been released from prison early, thanks to President Trump’s First Step Act initiative. According to his statement on X, Lichtenstein credits the act for his early release and expressed his commitment to making a positive impact in the cybersecurity field as soon as possible. Lichtenstein’s case drew significant attention last year when he was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of stealing approximately $3.2 billion worth of Bitcoin from his former employer, BitConnect. The hacker’s early release has raised questions about the effectiveness of the First Step Act and its potential implications for cybersecurity. As Lichtenstein looks to re-enter the cybersecurity community, he is likely to face scrutiny and criticism from experts and law enforcement agencies who view him as a threat. However, his statement suggests that he remains committed to using his skills for good, at least in theory.