British man recovers £3.3 million in Bitcoin after 12 years

A British man, identified as Chris, has successfully recovered approximately £3.3 million ($4.4 million) in Bitcoin that had been inaccessible for 12 years. In 2011, Chris invested £1,500 in the cryptocurrency through Intersango, one of the United Kingdom’s earliest exchanges.

Following difficulties at the exchange, Intersango went offline in 2014, leaving Chris’s account frozen. Because the platform was not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), recovery options were initially limited. After years of the investment being considered lost, Chris engaged CEL Solicitors, a firm specializing in cryptocurrency recovery.

Through legal negotiations involving US courts and the presentation of ownership documentation, the assets were returned. Legal experts suggest this case may have implications for other former Intersango customers, noting allegations that certain founders may hold significant amounts of Bitcoin that could belong to former users.