British Hacker Who Hijacked Obama and Elon Musk’s Twitter Accounts Ordered to Repay $5.4 Million in Bitcoin

British Hacker Ordered To Return $5.4 Million In Bitcoin After Hijacking Celebrity Twitter Accounts

Joseph James O’Connor, a 26-year-old from Liverpool, has been ordered by UK authorities to repay £4.1 million, roughly $5.4 million, in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies following one of the most notorious crypto scams in recent history.

The civil recovery order targets 42 Bitcoin, 235 Ethereum, and 143,000 BUSD, all linked to the 2020 Twitter breach that compromised accounts belonging to global figures including Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Kim Kardashian.

The hack, which took place in July 2020, saw O’Connor and his associates seize control of more than 130 Twitter accounts.

Using the hijacked profiles, the group promoted a fake Bitcoin giveaway, instructing followers to send crypto to a specified wallet with the promise of doubling their funds.

The initial theft amounted to $794,000, but the value of the stolen assets rose dramatically as cryptocurrency prices surged over subsequent years.

How the UK Seized Assets Without a Local Conviction

Although O’Connor faced criminal charges in the United States, including computer intrusion, wire fraud, and extortion, UK prosecutors pursued a civil route to ensure he would not benefit from his crimes.

Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Proceeds of Crime Division, said:

“Joseph James O’Connor targeted high-profile individuals and used their accounts to deceive people into handing over their cryptocurrency assets and money. We used all available powers to ensure he does not profit from his criminality, even without a UK conviction.”

O’Connor was arrested in Spain in 2021 and extradited to the United States, where the courts ruled it was best placed to prosecute him given the location of evidence and victims.

In 2023, he was sentenced to five years in prison in the Southern District of New York and ordered to pay $794,012 in forfeiture.

The UK civil recovery order now adds another layer of financial accountability, covering the increased value of the stolen crypto.

How the Scam Highlighted Risks for Social Media Users

The attack demonstrated how quickly influential social media accounts can be weaponised for financial scams.

The hijacked accounts gave the fraudsters instant access to millions of followers, creating a massive reach in a very short period.

The incident prompted Twitter, now known as X, to temporarily lock verified accounts and review its security systems.

Beyond the immediate financial loss, the hack highlighted vulnerabilities in digital platforms and emphasised the need for users to exercise caution online, particularly regarding too-good-to-be-true offers involving cryptocurrency.

Next Steps in Recovering the Stolen Funds

The seized digital assets will now be managed by a court-appointed trustee and liquidated under supervision, with the proceeds returned to public control.

The case illustrates how civil powers can be applied internationally to recover assets, even when criminal convictions are obtained elsewhere, and could shape how future crypto-related recoveries are handled.

The intersection of online crime and cryptocurrency remains complex, but the successful seizure of O’Connor’s assets demonstrates that authorities are finding new ways to pursue financial justice across borders.