TechFlow news — On October 9, the U.S. government filed a motion with the court requesting approval to use alternative notification procedures to inform potential victims of the 2016 Bitfinex hack. The government argues that under the Crime Victims' Rights Act (CVRA) and the Mandatory Victim Restitution Act (MVRA), Bitfinex may be the only entity that meets the legal definition of a victim. However, as a precautionary measure, the government still intends to notify all potential victims, particularly users whose accounts suffered losses following the breach.
The government proposes using the Department of Justice's large-case website and a dedicated case website for this notification, allowing potential victims to submit statements. The government considers this alternative notification method reasonable and supported by precedent. This step aims to ensure that all potentially affected individuals have an opportunity to assert their rights under the CVRA or MVRA prior to sentencing.
