“How a Forgotten Crypto Purchase Made a Millionaire”
💡 James Howells — a name that has become a legend among crypto investors. In 2013, this engineer from the UK accidentally threw away a hard drive that contained 7500 bitcoins.
At that time, bitcoin was worth just a few dollars, so the loss didn’t seem significant. But by 2017, the price of bitcoin skyrocketed to $20,000 per coin, and Howells' total balance would have exceeded $150 million.
What happened next?
Howells spent years trying to find the discarded hard drive at the local landfill, even offering local authorities a share of the found funds. However, the authorities refused, citing environmental and legal risks.
🔍 Today, James continues the fight for access to his fortune, which is currently valued at more than $200 million.
Lessons from this story:
1. Take care of your keys and data.
2. Don’t lose hope: despite the difficulties, Howells remains optimistic and hopes to one day recover his capital.
3. Technology matters: his case has become a lesson for millions, emphasizing the need for secure storage of crypto assets.