British Man's Case of Mistakenly Discarded Bitcoin

James Howells, 39, has become a well-known figure in Bitcoin history.

In August 2013, he mistakenly discarded a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin he mined in 2009—worth around $1 million at the time but now valued at approximately $527 million.

For years, Howells has petitioned Newport Council, which oversees the landfill where the hard drive was dumped, to allow its retrieval.

However, he claims his requests have been "largely ignored."

Howells is now suing the council for nearly £500 million ($647 million), aiming to recover his lost Bitcoin, a sum that reflects the cryptocurrency’s peak valuation earlier this year when it reached an all-time high of $73,737 per Bitcoin.

Digging Through Trash for His 'Treasure' Can Take 3 or More Years

Howells claims he lost the hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin during a home office cleanup due to a miscommunication with his then-partner.

At the time, Bitcoin was worth around $130 per coin; today, it trades for nearly $66,000.

As an early Bitcoin adopter, Howells mined the coins at minimal cost, but their value has skyrocketed.

Some experts even predict the coins could be worth billions in the future.

The case is set to be heard in December, but Howells hopes to persuade Newport Council to agree to an excavation of the landfill where the hard drive is buried, potentially avoiding a legal fight.

After leaving his IT job, Howells has dedicated himself full-time to recovering the lost fortune.

His legal filing pinpoints the hard drive’s location as "Cell 2 – Area 2" of the Docksway landfill, with experts estimating an 80% chance of data recovery.

The excavation, which could take up to three years, is estimated to cost $13 million.

Howells has assembled a team, including the landfill's former head, who believes he knows the exact location of the hard drive containing his Bitcoin.

The team, assisted by AI, is confident they can excavate the site safely and even help modernise the landfill, which has violated permit conditions due to hazardous waste.

Despite Howells' proposals, Newport Council has allegedly ignored his requests.

He explained:

"I'm still allocating 10% of the value for the council even though they have been problematic throughout. That would be 41 million pounds based on today's rate but in the future it could be hundreds of millions."

Struggling financially, Howells remains determined to pursue the case, even considering taking it to the Supreme Court if necessary.

He said:

"I have tried everything I can to avoid litigation by attempting to engage with Newport city council in every way possible over the years. It is a shame I have had to resort to it."

Newport Council Lays Claim of Bitcoin Hard Drive

The council's legal team asserts that they rightfully own the discarded hard drive with Bitcoin, arguing that Howells forfeited ownership when he threw it away.

In contrast, Howells' lawyers insist he never intended to abandon the hard drive.

The council has dismissed his claims as "weak," maintaining that excavation is impossible due to environmental regulations and their exclusive authority over the landfill.

They argue that Howells' demands are a distraction from the flaws in his case.

With the hearing scheduled for December, Howells remains determined to recover his Bitcoin, vowing to persist unless legally barred by a court ruling.

In reality, there is no use crying over spilt milk.

Whether it was accidentally or purposely discarded, the result is that it had been tossed away.

Will determined man Howells ever reclaim his treasure or will it be lost forever?