Riches to Regret: Man Loses $710 Million in Bitcoin Due To Ex-Girlfriend

The cryptocurrency market has been booming over the past couple of years. Bitcoin (BTC) in particular has surged by 153596028.94% since its origin. While the community has heard stories about investors losing BTC after hacks or scams, a new case has stunned the cryptocurrency market. A Welsh man has lost a staggering $710 million in BTC due to his ex-partner’s mistake.

Also Read: How High Can XRP Rise In December 2024?

A Sad Mistake

James Howells reportedly mined about 8,000 Bitcoin back in 2009. The price of BTC during this year was close to nothing. After this, the Welsh man went on to store the BTC in a hard drive. Sadly, Howells’ ex-girlfriend Halfina Eddy-Evans possessed this device and accidentally tossed it away. The hard drive was thrown in a black sack. This was along with all the other items that he owned.

While she acknowledged throwing it away along with Howells’ other belongings, Eddy-Evans added,

“Yes, I threw away his rubbish.”

Despite their separation, Eddy-Evans hopes Howells discovers his missing Bitcoin riches. This is not for financial reasons, but to prevent him from discussing it. She admitted that she had no idea about what was there in the hard drive. She further said,

“I had no idea what was in it, but I reluctantly dropped it off at the local tip on the way home from going on the school run. Losing it was not my fault. I’d love nothing more than him to find it. I’m sick and tired of hearing about it.”

Also Read: What $100 in Bitcoin 7 Years Ago Would Be Worth Now

Can Howells Recover The Lost Bitcoin?

Howells’ is fighting a court battle to reclaim his stolen Bitcoin fortune. This stash is now worth an estimated $710 million. If Howells is successful in recovering the Bitcoin, he has pledged to contribute 10% of the recovered value to his local community.

But all his efforts were going to waste. The Newport City Council is unwilling to allow him to investigate the landfill site where the hard drive was disposed. The council cites environmental rules as the basis for their decision, but Howells is determined to recoup his lost riches. Howells has been lobbying Newport City Council since 2013.

Also Read: US Dollar vs Chinese Yuan: Trump To Start a Currency War?