A British Bitcoin investor has recovered 61 BTC more than a decade after losing access to the coins when early UK exchange Intersango disappeared, turning an inaccessible early-crypto holding into assets worth millions.
The investor, identified only as Chris, bought the 61 BTC through Intersango in 2011 when Bitcoin traded at about £2.94. He regained the 61 BTC in full on May 28 after instructing CEL Solicitors in January to pursue the assets. The coins were valued at £3.33 million when the recovery was completed.
Bank Records Help Establish Ownership After 15 Years
Intersango began in early 2011 as Britcoin before operating under the Intersango name. It supported Bitcoin trading against pounds, dollars, euros and Polish zloty before GBP and USD trading stopped in late 2012 and the website went offline by early 2014. The company was dissolved in March 2016.
Chris had spent years without access to the Bitcoin before reopening the case in 2026. Recovering the coins required historical ownership evidence, including bank records dating back almost 15 years, alongside specialist blockchain tracing and documents connected to overseas proceedings.
The case was resolved within four months rather than through a prolonged contested trial. The recovery differs from Bitcoin that is genuinely inaccessible because its private keys have been destroyed or lost. Intersango still controlled the coins, leaving ownership and legal recovery as the central issues.
That distinction has frustrated other early holders. James Howells has spent years trying to recover a hard drive containing thousands of BTC from a Welsh landfill, including an earlier plan involving robot-assisted excavation after the device was discarded in 2013.
More Than 5,500 BTC Traced to Former Intersango Users
More than 5,500 BTC have been traced and are believed to be connected to former Intersango customers who were unable to withdraw before the exchange disappeared. At Bitcoin prices around $80,000, that pool would carry a market value above $440 million, although individual ownership claims still need to be established.
Old email accounts, correspondence with the exchange and bank statements showing payments to Intersango can provide evidence linking former customers to historical balances. The California proceedings connected to the remaining assets have also created a route for users seeking recognition of their claims.
Dormant or long-unmoved Bitcoin is not necessarily lost. A separate 999.6846 BTC movement earlier this year came from an address identified in litigation as abandoned, demonstrating that an inactive blockchain address can still have someone capable of signing transactions.
Recovery Returns Every Bitcoin in the Claim
Chris received all 61 BTC covered by his claim rather than a cash settlement based on their historical value. He has indicated that part of the recovered wealth will go toward a larger family home while most of the Bitcoin will remain invested.
For former Britcoin and Intersango customers, proving an old account balance remains the critical step. The more than 5,500 BTC already traced could support additional claims from users able to connect surviving emails, account details or banking records to assets held after the exchange shut down.
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