Megaupload Is Coming Back in 2017

In 2012, Megaupload was officially shut down by authorities. The online file sharing website was renowned for its storage functions, having become popular for its video streaming services, and amounted to over 150 million users worldwide. At the request of U.S. authorities, the Hong Kong-based company was seized in New Zealand and prosecuted for breaking multiple jurisdictions around the globe with criminal intent.

Founder Kim Dotcom announced via Twitter last week that he plans to relaunch the site with a new, revamped version that “will be better than the original and it will feel like home,” aiming for 100 GB of free storage and file encryption for all users, as well as an integrated bitcoin service. “I’ll be the first tech billionaire who got indicted, lost everything and created another billion $ tech company while on bail,” he writes, “Megaupload 2.0 will not host servers in the United States or use domains under US control.”

Megaupload’s relaunch date is set for January 20, 2017 — the fifth anniversary of the police raid that first shut down the site and froze $300 million HKD (approximately $39 million USD at the time) of the company’s assets. Kim promises to deliver beta coupons exactly one week before launch. Stay tuned as we await more information surrounding Megaupload’s anticipated return.