Ex-girlfriend throws away $716 million Bitcoin wallet because she was too tired!

James Howells' story of a Bitcoin fortune worth $716 million (£569 million), lost in a landfill in Wales nearly a decade ago, has taken a new twist.

Halfina Eddy-Evans, Howells' ex-partner, revealed that she was the one who disposed of the hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins at Howells' request.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Eddy-Evans stated that she had disposed of the hard drive because Howells had asked her to do so and said that 'losing it was not [her] fault.'

Howells' story highlights the risks associated with storing digital assets like cryptocurrencies and why proper management is key to minimizing financial loss.

A hard drive, hard to find

In 2013, Howells accidentally disposed of the hard drive while cleaning out old computer parts. At that time, the value of Bitcoin was much lower than it is now, causing the potential asset hoard on the drive to go unnoticed.

According to Howells' ex-partner, she took the hard drive to the landfill after being asked to dispose of 'unwanted items' after being 'pleaded' to take them away.

See more: Arkham launches score program for derivatives traders

Later, Howells realized that the hard drive contained 8,000 Bitcoins that he had mined in 2009 when BTC was valued at under $1 per Token. Now, the value of the cryptocurrency has skyrocketed, making the lost asset worth over $716 million.

Since realizing the lost asset on the hard drive, Howells has repeatedly called on the Newport City Council to allow excavation of the landfill, but he has been denied.

The Newport City Council has cited environmental risks and logistical challenges in digging through 110K tons of waste.

Howells remains steadfast in the face of these refusals after assuring private funding for excavation, while also proposing an $11 million idea to recover the funds and committing to donate 10% of the recovered amount to the council. However, the council maintains that their environmental permit does not allow for such activities.

This IT engineer has sued the Newport City Council for compensation of up to £495 million (approximately $647 million) for the council's refusal of his request.

The lesson of cryptocurrency storage

The incident sheds light on the risks of self-storage for cryptocurrency holders, with Eddy-Evans' comments emphasizing the importance of safe storage. Planning ahead before considering self-storage is essential to ensure that assets are kept safe, accessible, and not at risk of being lost – or thrown away by an ex-partner.

Whether holding assets in an online cryptocurrency wallet or app-based wallet, or using hardware wallets – often referred to as 'cold wallets' – it is crucial to store private keys and recovery options offline to minimize the risk of online hacking.

Storing multiple copies of recovery phrases and private keys at multiple secure locations, such as a safety deposit box or encrypted digital storage, can help keep funds safe and prevent financial loss.

Follow me @TinTucBitcoin #tintucbitcoin #Write2Win #btc #binance #bitcoin