Amazon MGM Studios has reportedly initiated the development of a film unraveling the story of a couple allegedly involved in laundering several billion dollars worth of Bitcoin (BTC) following the hack of the cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex in 2016.
According to a Deadline report on January 26, the Amazon production studio is planning a film titled “Razzlekhan,” centered around Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan and their role in money laundering on Bitfinex. The screenplay is said to be inspired by a 2022 New York Times article referring to the duo as “Bitcoins Bonnie and Clyde.”
After the hack on Bitfinex in August 2016, which saw approximately 119,754 BTC stolen, Lichtenstein and Morgan allegedly laundered over 94,643 BTC, as stated by the prosecution. This was accomplished through “a series of small, complex transactions across multiple accounts and platforms.” The couple was arrested by U.S. authorities in February 2022, and the seized Bitcoins, valued at around $54 million at the time of confiscation, had already surged to over $3 billion.
In August 2023, as part of a plea deal with the prosecution, Lichtenstein admitted guilt to money laundering conspiracy, while Morgan confessed to money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to defraud the United States. The planned title of the film, “Razzlekhan,” was Morgan’s nickname as an “irreverent comedic rapper.”
The film portrays the lives of Lichtenstein and Morgan in a dramatized manner, deviating from the trend where characters from the crypto realm are often depicted through documentaries. Following the collapse of FTX and the arrest of former CEO Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried in 2022, rumors circulated about a documentary exploring the relationship between SBF and former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao. In 2022, Netflix also released a documentary on the life and death of QuadrigaCX founder Gerald Cotten, whose users were left unable to access millions of dollars worth of cryptocurrencies.
As this captivating narrative unfolds on the big screen, it joins the ranks of crypto-related stories being explored through various cinematic lenses, adding another layer to the dynamic and evolving narrative of the cryptocurrency world.
