Lost Fortune: Bitcoins Worth Rs 6,015 Crore Accidentally Discarded by Techie’s Ex-Girlfriend
Lost Fortune: Bitcoins Worth Rs 6,015 Crore Accidentally Discarded by Techie's Ex-Girlfriend
A saga of lost fortune, legal battles and relentless determination unfolds in Newport, Wales.
James Howells, a tech enthusiast from Newport, Wales, continues his decade-long quest to recover a discarded hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins, now worth a staggering ₹6,015 crore ($714 million). The digital treasure, thrown into a landfill by his ex-girlfriend, Halfina Eddy-Evans, during a cleanup in 2013, remains buried amidst 100,000 tons of waste.
Eddy-Evans recently spoke about the incident, explaining that the disposal was unintentional. She recounted being asked to take a bag of rubbish to the landfill on her way home. “I had no idea what was inside,” she stated, defending her actions. At the time, Bitcoin held minimal value, and the hard drive’s importance was overlooked.
Howells had mined the Bitcoins in 2009 when cryptocurrency was in its infancy. After spilling lemonade on his laptop, he salvaged the hard drive but later discarded it alongside old belongings. Realizing its immense value years later, he launched efforts to recover the drive.
Legal and Environmental Challenges
Newport City Council has consistently denied Howells’ requests to excavate the landfill, citing environmental regulations and potential ecological disruption. Despite offering to donate 10% of the recovered fortune to benefit the community, his proposals have been rejected. A council spokesperson emphasized, “Excavation is not possible under our environmental permit and would cause significant environmental harm.”
Frustrated by repeated denials, Howells has filed a ₹4,900 crore ($648 million) lawsuit against the council, alleging obstruction. A preliminary hearing is set for December. To bolster his efforts, Howells has enlisted experts, including NASA engineers, to identify the hard drive’s location.
The case has sparked debates about the balance between individual rights and environmental ethics. Critics argue excavation could disrupt the ecosystem, while supporters highlight the potential economic gains. Eddy-Evans, now weary of the saga, hopes for closure: “I hope he finds it, just to stop complaining.”
The Treasure Hunt Continues
Howells remains steadfast, even envisioning Newport’s transformation into a “Dubai or Las Vegas of the UK” if he retrieves the hard drive. With Bitcoin’s value continuing to rise, potentially reaching $1 billion if prices soar further, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
For now, the hard drive and its fortune remain buried, awaiting resolution of this modern-day treasure hunt.
