British Investor Recovers 61 BTC Worth £3.3M After 12 Years Frozen in Intersango Account
A British investor, identified as Chris, has successfully recovered all 61 Bitcoin (BTC) he had lost access to over the past 12 years due to the collapse of early UK exchange Intersango. The cryptocurrency is now valued at approximately £3.3 million and was returned after a legal negotiation rather than court proceedings. Chris originally invested £1,500 in BTC in 2011 when Bitcoin traded around £2.94 per coin through Britcoin (later known as Intersango). His claim with CEL Solicitors led to the settlement of ownership via historical records and documentation prepared for U.S. courts. Intersango ceased operations in early 2014, leaving thousands of users unable to access their assets. Chris had previously attempted contact without success before eventually writing off his holdings as lost. His wife encouraged him to seek legal help again in early 2026, leading to the recovery and transfer of BTC into a wallet he controls. He now plans to retain part of it while converting some into cash. CEL Solicitors noted that over 5,500 BTC linked to former Intersango users have been traced but emphasized each claimant must prove ownership individually. The case highlights broader issues with stranded crypto assets and the importance of documentation in recovery efforts.
Topics: asset recovery Bitcoin Intersango legal claim