TLDR
- A British investor known as “Chris” lost access to bitcoin bought in 2011 through UK exchange Britcoin, later renamed Intersango
- His original investment was around 1,500 pounds ($2,000), bought at under $4 per BTC
- The exchange stopped trading in late 2012 and went offline by early 2014
- Law firm CEL Solicitors used crypto-tracing software to identify a wallet holding more than 5,500 BTC linked to former Intersango users
- Chris recovered holdings now worth approximately $4.5 million
A British investor has recovered bitcoin worth around $4.5 million after losing access to his wallet more than a decade ago.
🇬🇧 NEW: British investor who thought he lost $2,000 in Bitcoin back in 2012 just recovered $4.5 MILLION.
Chris bought BTC for around £1,500 in 2011, when Bitcoin traded below $4, but lost access after Britcoin/Intersango shut down.
For more than a decade, he watched Bitcoin’s… pic.twitter.com/nwK7vsVQQZ
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) September 5, 2026
The man, known only by the pseudonym “Chris,” bought his first bitcoin in December 2011 through Britcoin, a UK-based exchange that later became Intersango. The exchange stopped trading at the end of 2012 and went offline by early 2014, leaving Chris unable to access his funds.
His initial investment was about 1,500 pounds, or roughly $2,000. He bought in at under $4 per bitcoin.
Years of Watching From the Sidelines
For years, Chris watched bitcoin’s price climb while believing his holdings were gone for good.
“The worst thing was seeing Bitcoin grow and knowing what I could have done with the money,” he said.
When he lost access, the holdings had risen in value to around $5,400. He described the loss as devastating at the time.
“I had a young family, a new home and it was money I couldn’t afford to lose,” he said.
How the Recovery Happened
Law firm CEL Solicitors, working through its sister company The Crypto Tracing Experts, used crypto-tracing software to locate the funds. The firm identified a wallet believed to be linked to former Intersango users, holding more than 5,500 bitcoin, currently worth around $421 million.
Chris recovered a portion of those holdings. With bitcoin now trading at around $76,500, his recovered funds are valued at approximately $4.5 million.
Ryan Sweetnam, director of financial litigation at CEL, said the recovery required documentation going back nearly 15 years, including bank records proving the original purchase.
The process was not simple. Clients needed to show clear evidence of ownership to make a claim.
CEL Solicitors said other former Intersango users may also be able to recover funds, provided they can prove they owned bitcoin on the platform.
Chris said he plans to use some of the money to help his son pay off a mortgage and clear personal debt.
He also said he intends to hold onto some bitcoin, though he acknowledged concerns about price swings and the lack of regulation in the crypto market.
“I want to keep some Bitcoin to see if the value rises again but if I do it does make me nervous in case it goes down,” he said.
The case shows that lost crypto assets from early exchanges may still be traceable with the right tools and legal support.
