Amazon Developing Movie on Bitcoin Money Laundering Couple Linked to Bitfinex Hack
Amazon MGM Studios is reportedly in the early stages of developing a movie based on the exploits of the couple involved in laundering billions of dollars worth of Bitcoin connected to the 2016 hack of the cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex.
According to a report from Deadline on January 26, the film will focus on the actions of Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, portraying them as “Bitcoin’s Bonnie and Clyde.” The script draws inspiration from a 2022 New York Times article detailing the couple’s role in laundering funds from the Bitfinex hack.
The film “Razzlekhan” will be directed and written by Hannah Marks (“Don’t Make Me Go”) and co-produced by Lili Reinhart, known for her role in “Riverdale.” “Razzlekhan” is derived from Morgan’s moniker as an “irreverent comedic rapper.”
The movie will depict the couple’s activities, including their admission to orchestrating the 2016 hack of the Bitfinex cryptocurrency exchange, which resulted in the theft of 120,900 Bitcoin. U.S. authorities arrested the couple in February 2022, and the seized Bitcoin, initially worth around $54 million at the time of the hack, had surged to over $3 billion by their arrest.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco commented on the case, stating, “In a futile effort to maintain digital anonymity, the defendants laundered stolen funds through a labyrinth of cryptocurrency transactions.” The couple agreed to forfeit their illicit gains but could face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. The Justice Department announced in August 2023 that an additional $475 million tied to the heist had been recovered.
In August 2023, as part of a deal with prosecutors, Lichtenstein pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, while Morgan pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Crime Thriller Film in Development Based on Bitfinex Hack Involving Heather Morgan, the Razzlekhan
Heather Morgan, also known as Razzlekhan, was an aspiring rapper and Forbes contributor before her arrest. The film will explore her journey from the world of cybersecurity to the cryptocurrency space, shedding light on her involvement in the heist and subsequent arrest.
Since her bail in June 2023, Morgan has distanced herself from the cryptocurrency and NFT spaces. However, NFTs featuring Razzlekhan mysteriously disappeared from the NFT marketplace, OpenSea, in February 2022. These missing NFTs, album covers for Morgan’s Razzlekhan music videos titled “Versace Bedouin” and “Social Distance,” add an enigmatic layer to the narrative.
While the film takes a dramatic approach to the couple’s lives, other studios have explored cryptocurrency-related stories through documentaries. The collapse of FTX and the arrest of former CEO Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried in 2022 sparked rumors of a documentary on the relationship between SBF and former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao.
With a talented team behind the camera and a real-life story as its foundation, the film aims to captivate audiences with a thrilling narrative of crime, digital intrigue, and the pursuit of justice. In addition, Netflix released a documentary in 2022 on the life and death of QuadrigaCX founder Gerald Cotten, who left users cut off from millions of dollars worth of crypto.
