He accidentally threw away his Bitcoin codes in 2013. Now they’re worth US$108 million

A British convert to virtual currency Bitcoin, whose value has in recent days topped US$11,000, had mixed feelings Wednesday as he contemplated a portfolio ostensibly worth US$108 million - but beyond his grasp, buried under tonnes of garbage in a landfill.

James Howells was an early convert to the technology long before Bitcoin, dubbed “digital gold,” became all the rage, its value soaring some 1,400 per cent since the start of the year.

Exactly 12 months ago the unit, not accepted by any central banks but steadily gaining traction as a store of value or virtual commodity, was worth US$732 - though its volatility is such that having soared past US$11,000 Wednesday it slipped sharply in the afternoon.

That relative downturn was set to complete a rollercoaster of a day for Howells, whose portfolio was worth US$107,919,144 around lunchtime - a neat overnight profit of US$12 million or a handy US$4million since breakfast.

Sadly, there’s a big snag for Howells, whose portfolio is boosted by his also “owning” allocated units of breakaway coins Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin Gold.

Four years ago, the 32-year-old threw out an old computer - on whose hard drive were the ownership codes of his 7,500 Bitcoin stash, worth around US$700,000 at the time.

The value of the haul has since soared into the stratosphere - but his sole proof of ownership now lies buried below tonnes of household trash in a landfill in Newport, Wales.