A computer engineer from Newport has made an audacious bid to purchase a landfill site where he believes a hard drive containing £620 million worth of Bitcoin was accidentally thrown away by his ex-girlfriend over a decade ago.
James Howells, who made headlines in 2013 after discovering that a hard drive with 8,000 bitcoins was disposed of, has now expressed his desire to buy the tip at Newport’s Docks Way, where he believes the device still lies buried beneath layers of refuse. This staggering loss of cryptocurrency, which was at the time of the incident worth just a fraction of its current value, has become a long-running saga.
In 2013, Howells realised that the hard drive, which contained his entire Bitcoin fortune, had been thrown away by his then-partner in a clear-out of his home. He immediately tried to retrieve the device from the local landfill but was met with resistance from Newport City Council, who refused him access to the site. Howells then filed a legal battle, seeking permission to search the landfill or, alternatively, a £495 million compensation for the lost assets. However, his case was dismissed in 2021, and his legal attempts to reclaim the Bitcoin ended in failure.
Despite the dismissal, Howells is far from giving up. He has now set his sights on purchasing the site in a bid to conduct a thorough search for his lost fortune. His latest move follows the news that Newport City Council plans to close the landfill in the upcoming 2025-26 financial year. According to Howells, the council is also planning to develop the land into a solar farm, which would provide power for the city’s new fleet of bin lorries.
The prospect of a solar farm at the location is expected to create a significant revenue stream for the council, but it has also raised eyebrows, particularly for Howells. He argues that the council’s planning to close the landfill contradicts its previous stance on the issue. He stated, “The council planning on closing the landfill so soon is quite a surprise, especially since it claimed at the High Court that closing the landfill to allow me to search would have a huge detrimental impact on the people of Newport, whilst at the same time they were planning to close the landfill anyway.”
Howells’ comments highlight the ongoing tension between his desire to recover the Bitcoin and the council’s stance on the matter. The council had previously argued that allowing Howells to search the site would be disruptive and costly, as the operation could affect local residents and businesses. Furthermore, the environmental impact of excavating the landfill would be substantial, and concerns about public health and safety were also raised during the legal proceedings.
At the time, the legal battle attracted widespread media attention, partly due to the enormous value of the Bitcoin and the extraordinary nature of the claim. Bitcoin, which was valued at around £31,000 per coin at the time of the lawsuit, has seen its value increase exponentially in recent years, reaching over £70,000 per coin. This dramatic surge in value has only intensified Howells’ determination to retrieve his lost cryptocurrency.
Despite the legal setbacks, Howells has remained a vocal advocate for his cause, arguing that the council’s refusal to grant him access to the landfill is an unjust decision, considering the huge financial stake involved. His continued quest has attracted the attention of Bitcoin enthusiasts and tech communities alike, who have offered their support, and even some suggestions on how he might go about locating the hard drive. Some have suggested the use of advanced scanning technologies or even artificial intelligence-driven algorithms to scan through the landfill, though Howells has expressed doubts about the feasibility of these options.
Howells has also become something of a symbol for the consequences of misplaced digital assets. His story serves as a stark reminder of the volatility and uncertainty of cryptocurrency, as well as the challenges of storing such valuable digital assets in a way that ensures their longevity and security. His personal journey has sparked discussions around the future of digital wealth management and how individuals can protect their cryptocurrency from unexpected events, such as accidents or theft.
Although the case was ultimately dismissed, Howells remains hopeful that he can find another way to recover the hard drive. He continues to advocate for access to the landfill site, arguing that the financial and personal stakes are too high to simply walk away from. His persistence, however, has sparked divided opinions, with some believing he has every right to attempt to recover the Bitcoin, while others see his quest as a futile and costly exercise.
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As of now, Newport City Council has yet to comment on Howells’ recent attempts to purchase the tip. However, with plans to close the landfill site already in place, Howells may soon face a race against time to recover his digital fortune before the site is redeveloped. The outcome of this unusual case remains uncertain, but it is clear that Howells’ ambition to reclaim his Bitcoin fortune is far from over.
If the council proceeds with its redevelopment plans, it could spell the end of Howells’ hopes for recovery. Still, he remains undeterred, with a determination to secure the hard drive and the millions of pounds it contains. His story has captured the imagination of many, and whether or not he succeeds, it has highlighted the incredible potential of digital currencies, as well as the risks of losing them in the most unforeseen of ways.
