After twelve years without being able to access it, a British investor took over bitcoins currently valued at nearly $4.5 million. Identified under the pseudonym Chris, he initially invested 1,500 pounds in bitcoin in 2011 via the Intersango exchange platform. Recovery does not come from discovering an old password. Lawyers established his ownership using court documents, bank statements and tracing tools.
In brief
- British man recovers 61 bitcoins after twelve years without access to his funds.
- His initial investment of 1,500 pounds is now worth almost $4.5 million.
- Bank statements and court documents established his ownership.
- The firm responsible for the case used blockchain analysis to find the cryptos.
- More than 5,500 BTC linked to former Intersango customers could still be claimed.
Twelve years without access to bitcoins that have become millions
Chris acquired his first bitcoins in December 2011 through Britcoin, later renamed Intersango, when bitcoin had just crossed a decisive threshold. The British exchange platform had difficulties at the end of 2012, before disappearing at the beginning of 2014. From then on, the investor’s account was blocked when he wanted to withdraw his funds.
His assets were worth nearly 4,000 pounds. Then, their value changed for more than a decade without their holder being able to recover them. He has entrusted :
It was a blow to the stomach to see bitcoin go up and up.
The chronology of this story allows us to learn more about this recovery:
- Chris invested around 1500 pounds in bitcoin in 2011;
- His Intersango account became inaccessible in early 2014;
- Around 61 bitcoins would have been returned to him on May 28, 2026;
- Their value was nearly 3.3 million pounds, or approximately $4.5 million.
The investor further adds: “After a while I stopped watching the course. I told myself that it was of no use, since everything was lost”. At the time, his family was in a difficult financial situation, which reinforced the sense of loss.
The final amount will now depend on the price of bitcoin. A fluctuation of 1000 dollars constitutes almost 61000 dollars difference on a portfolio of 61 bitcoins.
Bank statements helped prove ownership
This situation does not correspond to the classic recovery of an individual wallet whose owner has lost the password. The bitcoins were found in addresses associated with Intersango. Chris therefore had to show that part of these assets belonged to him.
During 2018, he received emails sent by two co-founders of the old exchange platform. These emails asked former customers to come forward. However, Chris had deleted them because he thought it was a scam attempt.
His wife finally convinced him to take a new approach in January 2026. He then contacted the firm CEL Solicitors, specializing in disputes relating to cryptos.
The lawyers contacted gathered bank statements dating back almost fifteen years. They also used documents from American legal proceedings and blockchain analysis software. A sister company of the firm thus proceeded to identify a portfolio certainly linked to former clients of Intersango.
Ryan Sweetnam, director of financial litigation at CEL Solicitors, said: “we had to prepare all the documents for the American courts”. For him, the matter was ultimately resolved by negotiation without a hearing before a judge.
More than 5,500 BTC could still be claimed
The firm therefore claimed to have identified a wallet which contains more than 5,500 BTC associated with former Intersango users. These assets were worth nearly $421 million at the time of the investigation.
The amount does not mean that all the bitcoins will be immediately returned. Indeed, each former client must present sufficient proof. Emails, bank statements, account histories or tax documents can help establish ownership.
Ryan Sweetnam claims that a co-founder of Intersango admitted, during a procedure, to still possessing cryptos belonging to users. Such a declaration would facilitate other requests, however each file will retain its own legal constraints.
Now, Chris plans to give up some of his bitcoins to buy a bigger house and help his family. However, he plans to keep a fraction of his assets. “I want to keep some bitcoins to see if their value increases further”he declared.
Finally, this recovery reminds us that cryptos considered lost are not always irrecoverable. Blockchain can locate funds, however it does not alone prove their legal holder. Documents kept offline therefore remain fundamental if an exchange disappears.
Maximize your Tremplin.io experience with our ‘Read to Earn’ program! For every article you read, earn points and access exclusive rewards. Sign up now and start earning benefits.
