Kicker - Disappearing Bitcoin

MARY REICHARD, HOST: We’ve all forgotten passwords from time to time. It can be really irritating when you have to reset it. 

But what if you didn’t have the option to reset? In that case, if you can’t find your password, you’re locked out. Forever. 

Usually this is not life changing, but for a man in San Francisco? Listen to this. 

Stefan Thomas has Bitcoin (that’s virtual currency) locked away on a hard drive that will erase its data after 10 password attempts. He wrote the password down on a piece of paper years ago and lost it. And he’s already used eight of his 10 password attempts. 

Megan, see how much money he stands to lose? 

BASHAM: $220 million. 

Can’t even imagine! He told KGO-tv that he gets a lot of unsolicited advice.

THOMAS: Everything from the silly to like, for example, one person suggested – have you tried the word ‘password’?

BASHAM: Mmmm, don’t think so. 

Yeah, Thomas said he’s accepted that the money locked away on the hard drive is almost certainly gone forever. 

But he waxed philosophical about it. He said it was quite a milestone to realize he wouldn’t define himself by how much money he’s got in the bank.

It’s The World and Everything in It.

(AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File) In this Dec. 21, 2017, file photo, a Bitcoin logo is shown is displayed on an ATM in Hong Kong. 

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