Man throws away $9Million in bitcoins

n4n0 · Dec 17, 2013

Hoarders everywhere may be feeling smug after a British man threw a hard drive containing more than $9 million in bitcoin into the trash.

The device is now buried under a mountain of garbage at a landfill site in Wales. It will be almost impossible to find.

James Howells got rid of the drive, which holds a digital store of 7,500 bitcoins, between June and August this year.

The IT worker mined the virtual currency four years ago when it was the exclusive domain of tech geeks.

Back then bitcoin was worth very little. On Friday, the cryptocurrency broke through $1,200, making the missing hard drive worth around $9 million.

Howells had been hanging onto it for several years before deciding to clean up his home.

After discovering the mistake late last week, a "devastated" Howells began a frantic search through computer files and other drives for a backup. There isn't one.

A trip to the garbage dump was the only option.

"As soon as I saw the site, I thought you've got no chance. The area covered is huge," he told CNN.

A spokesperson for Newport City Council said an item thrown away in the summer months would now be buried under 25,000 cubic meters of waste and earth.

The council, which operates the dump, said it has helped retrieve items in some circumstances "but this would have to be done very quickly after it was thrown away."

Howells said he's had all sorts of suggestions emailed to him about how to get the drive back.

But well-meaning individuals shouldn't bother heading to the tip on his behalf - it's closed to the public for safety reasons.

Speculators have helped power bitcoin's dazzling rise this year.

A growing number of businesses now accept bitcoins, including some Subway sandwich shops and Richard Branson's Virgin Galatic space travel venture, though critics claim it's unlikely to become a legitimate currency.

The program behind bitcoin was created anonymously and introduced on the internet in 2010. Unlike traditional money, bitcoins are not managed by a central authority and exist only in cyberspace.
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http://finance.yahoo.com/news/9m-bitcoin-haul-buried-u-160800943.html

Buzz Killington · Dec 17, 2013

I saw this a while ago. I couldn't begin to think how I would feel if that was me who'd thrown the harddrive out. I'd probably cry.

Laptop65 · Dec 17, 2013

Yeah I saw this a few weeks ago. Can't imagine how he must have felt when he realised he had thrown $9,000,000 out in the trash.

zootederrday · Dec 17, 2013

I can't even being to think on how shitty he felt knowing he threw away 9 million dollars. I'm sure that will drive him crazy for the rest of his life.

CoinKing · Dec 17, 2013

Nice story,we hear it long time ago but for me this is bs.

Supplication · Jan 3, 2014

Funny thing that made me feel better: He went crazy. I was gonna be jelly if he did it on purpose though.

D3xus · Jan 7, 2014

Money is just an object, really funny stuff though, poor guy.

win4fun · Jan 7, 2014

This reminds me of the guy who bought a pizza for 10000 Bitcoins back in 2010

Darkest Dream · Jan 7, 2014

I remember selling about 8 bitcoins for $72 :/

SexayMistahBee · Jan 7, 2014

Hehe I've read on newsweek about an investor buying $27 worth of bitcoin back in the day. Wonder how much that costs now

edit: found it
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/oct/29/bitcoin-forgotten-currency-norway-oslo-home

this lucky guy held onto it!

IRL Seller · Jan 7, 2014

That is crazy. I would shit myself if I had thrown away $9,000,000.......

Dolandirici · Jan 7, 2014

Poor guy.. He must feel fuckedup.

Ow 3 Hit · Jan 9, 2014

I would cry for at least 2 nights, then get over it.

But god damn, threw away 9 mil.

Legend_ · Jan 9, 2014

Wow that is a crazy amount of money.. I would be really mad lol

Levels 2 Dis Sht · Jan 9, 2014

ehm for 9.6m i would go there and hand dig that sht out lol

Damned 33rd · Jan 9, 2014

Damn.. He's screwed.

Glyton · Jan 15, 2014

oh my goodness. I'd literally be pulling out hair.

Nick 91 · Jan 17, 2014

Wow - I couldn't imagine. Either he's doing this for attention or it could be real. Life would be over for me, anyways.

iBitcoin · Jan 23, 2014

Rofl, we have lughed out of this article with my mate. That is ridiculous and really sad But it is quite funny lol I'm still laughing, where is the garbage dump located I'm pretty interested

SocialDude · Jan 23, 2014

I saw this a while back too. All I can say is one I would hate myself for being that guy, but I would love to be the person who found it.
Silly mistake to throw out an investment like that, even if at the time it wasn't much. Not sure why it wasn't stored in a bitcoin wallet though, should've
Played smart

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Man throws away $9Million in bitcoins

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Man throws away $9Million in bitcoins

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n4n0 Legend

Buzz Killington Member

Laptop65 Hero

zootederrday Check out my Questing and Skilling services!

CoinKing In cryptocurrency we trust

Supplication Active Member

D3xus Member

win4fun Guru

I prefer to have my nightmares with open eyes.

SexayMistahBee Sexiest Bee On Earth

IRL Seller Guru

Dolandirici Newcomer

Ow 3 Hit Apprentice

Legend_ Active Member

Levels 2 Dis Sht Active Member

Damned 33rd Member

Glyton Forum Addict

Nick 91 full stack web developer + nikola.katic.91 skype

iBitcoin A nice guy!

SocialDude Active Member