The infamous story of James Howells, who lost a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin in a Welsh landfill nearly a decade ago, has resurfaced with a shocking revelation. Howells’ former partner, Halfina Eddy-Evans, has admitted to throwing away the hard drive at his request, saying she’s “tired of hearing about it.”

In an interview, Eddy-Evans claimed she was asked to discard the hard drive along with other unwanted items in 2013. At the time, Bitcoin's value was negligible compared to its current worth, exceeding $716 million. The misplaced fortune has since become a symbol of the high stakes involved in cryptocurrency self-custody.

Howells realized the catastrophic mistake after Bitcoin's value skyrocketed. Desperate to recover the lost millions, he has repeatedly sought permission to excavate the Newport landfill where the hard drive likely resides. Newport City Council, however, has consistently denied his requests, citing environmental and logistical concerns. Undeterred, Howells proposed an $11 million private excavation plan, promising 10% of recovered funds to the council, but his efforts remain blocked.

The case has escalated into legal battles, with Howells suing the council for $647 million in damages over their refusal to grant excavation rights. The story underscores the importance of secure digital asset management.

Cryptocurrency holders are reminded of the risks of self-custody, including the potential for irreversible losses. Experts recommend using hardware wallets, offline storage, and multiple backup copies of private keys to safeguard assets from accidents, hacks, or mismanagement.

Howells’ saga serves as a cautionary tale for the crypto community: proper planning and secure storage are essential when managing digital wealth.