Bitfinex hacker Heather Morgan aka Razzlekhan reportedly seen at Bitcoin Conference 2024

Reports indicate that Heather Morgan, alias Razzlekhan, was present at the Bitcoin Conference 2024 held in Tennessee. Morgan was convicted in 2023 after she pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering alongside her husband, Ilya Lichtenstein. The crypto industry observers raised concerns over her attendance.

Heather Morgan , known for her role in the Bitfinex hack, was reportedly spotted at the Bitcoin Conference 2024. The Bitfinex hack suspect is said to have attended several crypto-related events in the past, with the latest being the recently-concluded Nashville Bitcoin conference, where former U.S. president, Donald Trump, also spoke at.

Morgan’s motivation behind these attendances remains unclear, and some crypto fans have developed theories to justify her presence.

Heather Morgan reportedly seen at the Bitcoin Conference 2024

The self-proclaimed social engineer made headlines in 2023 after being arrested alongside her husband for contributing to the 2016 Bitfinex cyber hack. The hack was reportedly worth 120,000 BTC, which was approximately $70 million in 2016.

Morgan pleaded guilty to money laundering charges on Aug 2, 2023 and was facing a possible 5-year prison term and a $250,000 fine. The hack is said to be among the biggest crypto-related hacks.

Morgan is awaiting her sentencing hearing on November 8, 2024, while her husband, Ilya Lichtenstein, is under house arrest and free on bail. Reports indicate that she was granted permission to leave her house three days a week and has tried to rebrand herself as a Web3 advisor.

Judge Howell commented that Lichtenstein played a much larger role in the hack than Morgan, which prompted harsher bail terms. University of Arkansas School of Law professor Carol Goforth added that Morgan’s husband was also a flight risk, given his ties to Russia.

Experts raise concerns over Heather Morgan’s attendance

Razzlekhan was reportedly holding discussions with other attendees at the event, and her appearance is said to have alarmed many. Others raised questions about the motivation behind the attendance. 

James Lopp, a Bitcoin developer, raised his suspicions through a post on X and advised organizers to treat her as a threat.

It’s extremely suspicious that she is still walking free and hasn’t been sentenced for her crimes.”

– Jameson Lopp

Some speculate that Morgan might be trying to create more cordial relations with other crypto community members to salvage her image before the sentencing later this year.

Others stated that the attendance might be part of her charitable scheme as she scouts for consulting gigs to raise the possible $250,000 fine.

Rebutting experts suspected that she might be seeking intel for the state in the conferences as part of a bargain with the U.S. government to reduce her prison time. Loop supported this theory, adding that she may be using her expertise in social engineering to benefit the government.