British Investor Reclaims £3.3M of Frozen Bitcoin After 12-Year Battle
A British investor has successfully recovered 61 Bitcoin worth approximately £3.3 million ($4.7 million) after a 12-year legal battle.
The coins were initially bought through Intersango, the UK's first cryptocurrency exchange, in December 2011 for £1,500.
The exchange later changed its name and shut down in 2014, freezing Chris's holding of 61 Bitcoin. The private keys remained under the control of the exchange's former operators, turning the matter into a legal dispute rather than a technical recovery effort.
Chris hired CEL Solicitors to handle his case and used ownership records and court documents to establish his claim over the coins. Through this process, the legal team was able to confirm Chris as the rightful owner and secure the release of the full 61 coins.