Archive · 17 Nov 2025
UK Orders Twitter Hacker to Repay $5.4 Million in Bitcoin
Imagine someone hacked into Twitter and tricked famous people like Barack Obama and Elon Musk into sending them money, which was in a digital currency called Bitcoin.
This hacker, a young man named Joseph, was found guilty and sent to prison in the United States.
Now, the United Kingdom, where the hacker is from, has ordered him to give back all the money he made from the scam.
This money is worth about 5.4 million dollars in Bitcoin.
The UK wants to make sure he can't keep any of the money he stole, even though he was punished in America.
They are taking special digital coins from him to return it.
A man convicted over the 2020 Twitter hack, Joseph James O’Connor, has been ordered by UK authorities to repay $5.4 million in Bitcoin.
O’Connor pleaded guilty in the U.S. to charges including computer intrusion and was sentenced to five years in prison.
British prosecutors obtained a civil recovery order to seize 42 Bitcoin and other crypto assets linked to the scam.
The July 2020 hack compromised accounts of high-profile figures including Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Elon Musk.
Twitter (now X) temporarily restricted verified accounts following the security breach.
- Who
- Joseph James O’Connor, a 26-year-old hacker convicted in the U.S.
- What
- Ordered by UK authorities to repay $5.4 million in Bitcoin and crypto assets linked to a 2020 Twitter hack.
- When
- The UK order was made on Monday; the hack occurred in July 2020.
- Where
- O'Connor was arrested in Spain and extradited to the U.S. The order was obtained by British prosecutors.
- Why
- To ensure O'Connor does not benefit from his criminal activities, despite not being convicted in the UK.
- Perpetrator
- Joseph James O’Connor, 26
- Crime
- 2020 Twitter Hack, Computer Intrusion, Wire Fraud, Extortion
- Amount Ordered Repaid
- 4.1 million pounds ($5.40 million) in Bitcoin and crypto assets
- Bitcoin Seized
- 42 Bitcoin
- Date of UK Order
- Monday
- Original Hack Date
- July 2020