The story of James Howells, who accidentally lost a hard drive containing $716 million worth of Bitcoin
His former partner, Halfina Eddy-Evans, explained that she was asked to dispose of the hard drive and emphasized that its loss was not her fault.
She described the task as one she was “begged” to undertake, carrying the discarded belongings to a landfill without realizing their potential value. The hard drive’s fate was sealed in 2013 when Eddy-Evans mistakenly disposed of it while clearing old computer parts.
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At the time, Bitcoin was worth a fraction of today’s value, with one token priced under $1. Howells later discovered that the device contained 8,000 Bitcoin he had mined in 2009, which have since appreciated into a multimillion-dollar fortune.
Upon realizing his mistake, Howells launched numerous efforts to recover the drive. He approached Newport City Council, requesting permission to excavate the landfill where the device was disposed of. Despite his persistence, these appeals were denied due to environmental risks and the logistical complexities of sifting through approximately 110,000 tons of waste.
Howells also proposed funding the excavation privately, presenting an $11 million plan to recover the drive. He also pledged to donate 10% of recovered Bitcoin to the council. However, officials stood firm, citing the limitations of their environmental license and the risks posed by such an operation.
Eddy-Evans’ actions, though unintentional, serve as a cautionary tale about the importance of secure storage and careful planning when safeguarding digital assets.
While losing a fortune to poor decisions is a harsh lesson, some losses come from deliberate schemes. One such story is a phishing scam that led to the disappearance of $6 million worth of Giga Tokens. How could this scam happen? Read the full story.
