Court Ends IT Engineer’s Hope To Retrieve $750 Million Bitcoin Fortune

James Howells, an IT specialist from Newport, Wales, has reached the end of his legal battle to recover a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins now valued at $750 million. A judge dismissed his lawsuit against Newport City Council, denying him the chance to excavate a landfill where he believes the drive has been buried since 2013.

Howells accidentally discarded the hard drive a decade ago, back when Bitcoin’s value was negligible. As the cryptocurrency’s worth surged to $94,000 per coin, he sought to dig through 1.4 million tons of landfill waste, claiming to have pinpointed the hard drive to a 100,000-ton section. His efforts included offering to fully fund the operation and share 25% of the recovered fortune with the council and local community.

Despite these assurances, Newport City Council consistently blocked Howells’ proposals, citing environmental regulations and logistical issues. On Thursday, Judge Keyser KC ruled that Howells had no reasonable grounds for his claim and no realistic chance of success. The court also upheld the council’s argument that it owns the landfill contents, including the hard drive.

The decision has left Howells frustrated. “This ruling has taken everything from me,” he said. “I wasn’t even given a chance to explain myself fully in a trial.” Howells added that he had spent years negotiating with authorities, but his efforts to reclaim the lost Bitcoin fortune repeatedly hit legal roadblocks.

The case highlights the challenges of recovering lost digital assets and the legal complexities surrounding ownership of discarded items. Howells’ journey attracted significant attention, especially as Bitcoin’s value grew exponentially, but the court’s decision has now closed this chapter.

Howells had assembled a team of experts to assist in the recovery effort, emphasizing his willingness to share the proceeds. However, the environmental and legal barriers proved insurmountable, leaving the hard drive — and the fortune it contains — unretrievable.