Stolen Bitcoin's Archenemy, the Notorious 'Razzlekhan,' and His Takedown Instrument - a Laptop - Finds Its Place at the Smithsonian
The National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Museum has added a unique item to its collection – a MacBook Pro that once contained the keys to $3.6 billion in stolen Bitcoin. The laptop, which was instrumental in bringing down the infamous Bitcoin thieves Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, often referred to as Bitcoin's Bonnie and Clyde, will be displayed in the "The Value of Money Gallery."
Before the laptop's custody with the U.S. Department of Treasury, Chris Janczewski, an IRS Criminal Investigator, played a crucial role in the case. Janczewski's laptop provided evidence that led to the arrest of Lichtenstein and Morgan in 2022, when the value of the stolen Bitcoin was more than $3 billion.
Each of the items owned by the museum contains a QR code that links to a digital wallet. A talented digital forensics expert can map wallets, connect them to people, and create a history of use and spending that proves criminal behavior. This feature on the MacBook Pro now in the collection captures the shift in understanding of cryptocurrency's traceability.
The museum also owns a copy of Bitcoin magazine, two physical Bitcoins, a silver Bitcoin engagement ring, and a gold Bitcoin bling necklace. However, the struggle to display cryptocurrency in a museum is not lost on the National Numismatic Collection curator, Ellen Feingold. According to a blog about the laptop from Feingold, the museum has faced challenges in exhibiting digital assets.
Feingold removed the holograms from the physical Bitcoins before donation. The stolen Bitcoin, now represented by a MacBook Pro, will join other valuable items in the museum, each with its own story to tell.
Lichtenstein and Morgan pleaded guilty to the theft of Bitcoin, with Lichtenstein receiving a sentence of five years in prison, while Morgan received 18 months. The Department of Justice raided Lichtenstein and Morgan's NYC apartment and seized their digital assets after Janczewski's laptop provided evidence of the stolen Bitcoins.
Heather Morgan, in addition to being a thief, is also known as the self-styled "Crocodile of Wall Street" and raps under the name Razzlekahn. A Netflix documentary was made about Lichtenstein and Morgan, adding another layer to their infamous legacy.
Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui reached out to the museum to emphasize the importance of the laptop. The exact name of the judge responsible for the laptop case who informed the Smithsonian Museum about the significance of the item is not found in the provided search results.
The addition of the MacBook Pro to the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Museum serves as a reminder of the evolving world of cryptocurrency and its potential impact on crime and investigation.
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