The Smithsonian Institution will showcase a MacBook Pro owned by former IRS agent Chris Janczewski, which was instrumental in tracking down 120,000 Bitcoin stolen from the crypto exchange Bitfinex in 2016.
A Key Artifact in Cryptocurrency History
The laptop, now part of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, represents a pivotal moment in the evolving understanding of cryptocurrency. Ellen Feingold, curator for the museum’s National Numismatic Collection (NNC), described the device as the centerpiece of a groundbreaking criminal investigation.
Janczewski, who now leads global investigations at blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, utilized the blockchain as a “digital crime scene.” His efforts identified Ilya Lichtenstein and his wife, Heather Morgan, as the perpetrators of the Bitfinex hack. The couple was sentenced earlier this month, with Lichtenstein receiving five years in prison and Morgan serving 18 months.
How the Investigation Unfolded
Janczewski’s work led to the seizure of 120,000 Bitcoin, valued at $3.6 billion in 2022, making it the largest financial seizure in Department of Justice history. Lichtenstein had stolen the Bitcoin, while Morgan, who performed as a rapper under the alias “Razzlekhan,” helped launder the funds.
The idea to feature Janczewski’s laptop in the Smithsonian came from Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui, who recognized the case’s historical importance and reached out to the NNC.
Bitcoin in the Smithsonian
The NNC’s collection chronicles the history of money, featuring over 1.6 million items dating back to ancient Mesopotamia. Despite Bitcoin’s digital nature, the museum is working to include artifacts that capture the cryptocurrency’s evolution.
Current Bitcoin-related items in the collection include:
- A Bitcoin magazine
- Two physical Bitcoin tokens with hologram-embedded private keys
- Two pieces of 3D-printed Bitcoin jewelry
Feingold emphasized the importance of documenting Bitcoin’s role in financial history, especially as an alternative to traditional banking systems in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
Janczewski’s laptop will be part of “The Value of Money” exhibit, set to reopen at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in late 2024.
