James Howells loses bid to recover Bitcoin fortune lost in landfill
James Howells, an IT engineer from Newport, Wales, has lost his 12-year legal battle to recover a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin, currently valued at over $770 million. A judge dismissed the case, stating there was “no realistic prospect” of success at trial.
Howells Bitcoin address. Source: James Howells
The hard drive, which Howells accidentally discarded in 2013, ended up in a Newport landfill. Since then, he has repeatedly sought permission from Newport City Council to excavate the site, offering a share of the recovered Bitcoin as an incentive. However, the council has consistently denied access, citing environmental concerns and restrictions under its landfill permit.
Court Rules Against Hard Drive Recovery
In the latest development, Circuit Commercial Judge Keyser rejected Howells’ legal claim to search the landfill, according to a report by the BBC on 9 January. Judge Keyser concluded the case was unlikely to succeed, effectively ending Howells’ hopes of recovering the hard drive through the courts.
Howells expressed disappointment with the ruling, accusing the UK legal system of failing to provide him with a fair opportunity for justice. He argued that the value of the asset deserved greater consideration and claimed the court had not fully understood the significance of the case.
BTC/USD, 1-year chart.
Despite the legal setback, the ownership of the Bitcoin hard drive was not contested during the hearing. Howells said this acknowledgment could open alternative avenues, such as monetising the digital assets via tokenisation.
Council Denies Excavation Amid Environmental Concerns
The Newport City Council has consistently refused Howells’ requests to search the landfill, citing significant environmental risks. In October 2024, the council reiterated that excavation was “not possible” under its environmental permit, emphasising the potential “huge negative environmental impact” on the surrounding area.
Howells, however, has accused the council of breaching its own environmental regulations. He claimed to have “100 independently verified pieces of evidence” supporting allegations that the landfill was leeching harmful substances, including arsenic, asbestos, and methane gases, into the local environment.
Despite these allegations, the council has remained firm in its stance and has refused to meet Howells in person to discuss the matter further.
From Forgotten Hard Drive to $770 Million Loss
Howells, an early adopter of Bitcoin, mined 8,000 BTC in 2009 when the cryptocurrency was virtually worthless. He mistakenly threw away the hard drive containing the Bitcoin in 2013, at which point the cryptocurrency was valued at just $13 per coin.
BTC/USD, monthly chart. Source: TradingView
Since then, Bitcoin’s price has skyrocketed, reaching a record $100,000 in 2024. The dramatic rise has intensified interest in Howells’ case, as the value of the lost Bitcoin has increased over 700,000-fold since 2013.
While his legal options now appear exhausted, Howells remains determined to find a way to reclaim his lost Bitcoin fortune. His legal team continues to negotiate with the Newport City Council and the court over the final wording of the order.
For now, the saga of the $770 million Bitcoin hard drive remains an unresolved chapter in cryptocurrency history.
