Deposit with former Tradehill lost?

[GabrielZ]

In 2011, I had deposited some money with Tradehill.
As far as I can tell, they did not refund it when they shut down.
(I have checked my bank statements.)

So my question is: do I still own the bitcoins they bought for me? or are they lost?

Best regards,
Gabriel.

[clanie]

Must be lost, I'm afraid 

[GabrielZ]

So, I have another question - it seems like I don't understand exactly how bitcoins are stored.

I thought, once a bit coin has been created, it can never be destroyed, because it is stored in a peer-to-peer-like network.

Is that wrong?

[optimator]

So, I have another question - it seems like I don't understand exactly how bitcoins are stored.

I thought, once a bit coin has been created, it can never be destroyed, because it is stored in a peer-to-peer-like network.

Is that wrong?

You are correct. The blockchain (the peer-to-peer network) stores a public address. If you know the public address (we say bitcoin address) you could look on the blockchain and see your funds. However, to spend those funds you need a private key that is associated with the bitcoin address.

[GabrielZ]

Thanks for sharing the insights!

So I'm facing 2 problems:
1. I don't know the public address of my bitcoins;
2. I don't have a private key - or do I?

[optimator]

Thanks for sharing the insights!

So I'm facing 2 problems:
1. I don't know the public address of my bitcoins;
2. I don't have a private key - or do I?

If you don't know #1 it's doubtful you have #2....

Give TradeHill a call and ask. They seem to have a nice web site.