British Investor Recovers £3.3 Million in Frozen Bitcoins After 12-Year Battle

A British investor has successfully recovered 61 Bitcoin after a grueling 12-year legal battle. The coins, worth approximately £3.3 million or $4.7 million, were frozen inside Intersango's defunct exchange since its collapse in 2014.

The investor, Chris, had purchased the coins in December 2011 through Britcoin, the UK's first cryptocurrency exchange. At the time, each Bitcoin traded at around £2.94, giving him a total of 61 Bitcoins.

Chris's holding grew to about £4,000 by 2014 but was inaccessible after Intersango shut down amid financial difficulties. 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.

A British law firm, CEL Solicitors, used ownership records and court documents to establish Chris as the rightful owner of the coins. Through this process, they were able to confirm his claim and secure the release of the full 61 Bitcoins.