IRS Agent’s Laptop Becomes a Smithsonian Treasure

Crypto News

Bitfinex Heist Solved: IRS Agent’s Laptop Becomes a Smithsonian Treasure

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: November 20, 2024

Key Takeaways

Smithsonian Institution has added an IRS laptop central to recovering 120K stolen Bitcoin to its collection;
The case shows blockchain’s utility as a tool for solving digital crimes;
Physical artifacts documenting Bitcoin’s history are rare but critical for understanding its evolution.

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Bitfinex Heist Solved: IRS Agent’s Laptop Becomes a Smithsonian Treasure

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A MacBook Pro used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to trace and reclaim 120,000 Bitcoin BTC $86,755.11 stolen in the 2016 Bitfinex $36.38M hack has found a new home in the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

This laptop, now a part of the National Museum of American History’s “The Value of Money” exhibit, played an important role in solving one of cryptocurrency's most notorious cases.

Writing for Smithsonian Magazine on November 18, Ellen Feingold, curator for the Smithsonian’s National Numismatic Collection (NNC), highlighted the device's significance as a technological tool and a historical artifact. He said, "The laptop is the centerpiece of a criminal case that shows an evolving understanding of cryptocurrency".

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The laptop originally belonged to Chris Janczewski, a former IRS Special Agent and current global investigations lead at TRM Labs, a blockchain intelligence firm. Janczewski used the laptop to navigate the blockchain as if it were a digital crime scene, identifying key clues that exposed the theft.

This work led to the recovery of the stolen Bitcoin and the capture of Ilya Lichtenstein, the mastermind behind the hack. Lichtenstein, along with his wife, Heather Morgan—infamously known as rapper “Razzlekhan”—orchestrated the hack and attempted to launder the stolen funds.

The proposal to include Janczewski’s laptop in the Smithsonian originated from Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui. Feingold noted that while the NNC has a vast collection of over 1.6 million items tracing the history of money from ancient times, documenting Bitcoin’s journey has proven challenging due to its intangible nature.

The “Value of Money” gallery, where Janczewski’s laptop will be displayed, is set to reopen in late 2024.

In other news, Michael Saylor plans to present a Bitcoin strategy proposal to Microsoft’s board. How could this strategy impact Microsoft? Read the full story.