Ex’s Bitcoin Fortune ‘Accidentally Thrown Out’: $569 Million Lost in Landfill Sparks Fiery Feud

A simple mix-up more than a decade ago has escalated into a multimillion-dollar nightmare, as a woman claims she accidentally disposed of her ex-partner’s hard drive containing access to his $569 million Bitcoin fortune. James Howells, a 39-year-old IT engineer from Newport, Wales, has been on a relentless mission to recover the lost drive, while his ex, Halfina Eddy-Evans, insists she isn’t to blame.

Bitcoin Fortune Gone with the Trash

In 2009, Howells acquired around 8,000 Bitcoins, which were nearly worthless at the time. Fast forward to today, and Bitcoin’s meteoric rise—recently peaking at $98,739 per coin—means the digital treasure trove is now worth an estimated £618 million.

Howells claims the hard drive granting access to this fortune ended up in a Newport landfill 15 years ago after Eddy-Evans mistakenly threw it out. However, Eddy-Evans disputes the accusation, saying she only disposed of the bag containing the drive at Howells’ request. “He begged me to take it away, saying, ‘There’s a bag of rubbish here to be taken to the tip,’” she told MailOnline.

A Long-Running Feud

Eddy-Evans, who shares two sons with Howells, recounted reluctantly taking the bag to the dump on her way home from a school run. “I had no idea what was in it,” she explained, emphasizing that the incident was not her fault. She added, “I thought he should be running his errands, not me, but I did it to help out.”

For years, Howells has been campaigning to locate the hard drive, which he believes remains buried in the landfill. Eddy-Evans expressed frustration over his ongoing efforts, stating, “I’d love nothing more than him to find it. I’m sick and tired of hearing about it.”

Despite their public dispute, Eddy-Evans says she hopes the hard drive is eventually found, noting it would finally bring an end to the ordeal.

Social Media Buzzes Over the Bitcoin Drama

The story has sparked heated discussions online, with netizens weighing in on the blame and the staggering loss:

• @CryptoLover24: "Imagine losing $569M because of a trash mix-up. This is why I back up EVERYTHING!"
• @RealityCheck2023: "Blaming your ex for your mistakes? Typical. Should’ve taken care of the hard drive yourself, mate."
• @MillionaireDreams: "This could be the most expensive mistake in history. I hope he gets it back!"
• @MomLifeWins: "Props to her for helping, but maybe don’t leave $569M in the trash next time?"
• @CryptoBro101: "A landfill search for $569M? Sign me up. I’ll dig day and night for that fortune."
• @CommonSense2024: "The real question: Why wasn’t the hard drive secured? You can’t trust anyone with that much money!"

The Unending Search

Howells remains determined to retrieve the hard drive, even proposing a multi-million-dollar search operation to excavate the Newport landfill. However, local authorities have rejected his requests, citing logistical and environmental concerns.

The saga underscores the risks of cryptocurrency storage and the high stakes of poor decision-making. For now, the drive—and the fortune—remain lost, leaving the world to wonder if it will ever be recovered.