The Bitcoin 2024 Conference attendees spotted the Bitfinex hacker Heather Morgan at the event.
As thousands converge to discuss the future of crypto at the Bitcoin Conference 2024, the man behind the Bitfinex multimillion attack, Heather Morgan, was spotted at the event.
Having profiled herself as a rapper and tech investor, Morgan was easily identified at the event, which ignited speculation among the crypto community. Other attendees were curious to know why the notorious hacker attended the event.
Bifinex Hacker Heather Morgan Attends Bitcoin Conference
Morgan was accused of stealing 120,000 BTC valued at $4.5 billion from Bitfinex. The hack was ranked as one of the largest financial frauds in history. After being on the run for seven years, Morgan and her husband, Ilya Lichtenstein, resurfaced to launder $4.5 billion stolen from ill-gotten Bitfinex.
In 2023, the couple pleaded guilty to money laundering and are awaiting sentencing in November. Based on the damages caused by the Bitfinex attack, the two might receive at least ten years imprisonment.
During the Bitcoin event, one of the attendees questioned why Morgan was present. He claimed Morgan was awaiting sentencing and would settle $250,000 administrative fees in an upcoming court hearing.
In a subsequent report, the co-founder of Bitcoin custody firm Casa Jameson Lopp described Morgan’s attendance as extremely suspicious. The executive reported the matter to the Bitcoin conference organizers, claiming that Morgan threatened the crypto community.
He advised the event facilitators to deny Morgan entry to the event. The Bitcoin investors claimed that his request to deny Morgan entry to the event was because he was known as a threat to the crypto community.
Bitcoin Investors Criticize Heather Morgan’s Attendance at Bitcoin Conference
Lopp stated that the event was graced by crypto bigwigs and fintech entrepreneurs who are scammers and hackers’ targets. He stated that he believes convicted crypto criminals can attend gatherings such as Bitcoin conferences.
However, Lopp believes that criminality and morality do not align with each other. He argued that individuals such as Sam Bankman-Fried and Alex Mashinsky would be allowed to attend Bitcoin events despite the harm they caused to the crypto industry.
However, individuals such as Roger Ver and Erik Voorhees will require the organizers to consider whether their attendance at the event would pose any harm. The Bitcoin enthusiast advised the investors to take preventive measures to protect the crypto community from bad actors.
He explained that excluding individuals with ill intentions and criminal backgrounds will maintain the integrity and security of the digital space. Based on the crypto industry’s permissionless nature, Lopp advised the investors to engage in self-policing to prevent criminal activities.
He added that if an individual demonstrates his untrustworthiness, he should not benefit from networking opportunities like the Bitcoin conference.
Crypto Community Urged to Conform with Bitcoin Culture of Openess and Inclusivity
The organizers rejected Lopp’s request, claiming that denying Morgan entry contravened the Bitcoin culture and principle of inclusivity and open ethos governing the event.
The crypto community criticized the Bitcoin culture for failing to balance security concerns with the cardinal rules of openness and inclusivity.
In his statement, Lopp expressed concerns that Morgan’s attendance might expose the crypto community to heightened risks. The executive became skeptical that Morgan had attended the event to seek advice from the crypto bigwigs on the ongoing legal proceeding and the $250,000 penalty.
The Bitfinex hacker introduced herself as a Web3 adviser at the event, which attracted speculation. Other attendees argued that Morgan was present at the event to seek guidance on reducing her sentencing.
Lopp argued that based on Morgan’s professionalism, the hacker might opt for his jail term to be prolonged to work with the government. The executive claimed that Morgan is a social engineer and could use her skills and expertise to support the government.
If it happens, Morgan agrees to work for the government Lopp feared that the crypto community would be exposed to heightened risks.
All trademarks, logos, and images displayed on this site belong to their respective owners and have been utilized under the Fair Use Act. The materials on this site should not be interpreted as financial advice. When we incorporate content from other sites, we ensure each author receives proper attribution by providing a link to the original content. This site might maintain financial affiliations with a selection of the brands and firms mentioned herein. As a result, we may receive compensation if our readers opt to click on these links within our content and subsequently register for the products or services on offer. However, we neither represent nor endorse these services, brands, or companies. Therefore, any disputes that may arise with the mentioned brands or companies need to be directly addressed with the respective parties involved. We urge our readers to exercise their own judgement when clicking on links within our content and ultimately signing up for any products or services. The responsibility lies solely with them. Please read our full disclaimer and terms of use policy here.