Man Who Lost $800M in Bitcoin Plans to Buy the Landfill Where It’s Buried
James Howells, a Welsh IT worker, accidentally threw away a hard drive in 2013—one that he claims contains almost $800 million worth of bitcoin.
For over a decade, he has been fighting to recover the lost fortune, but after numerous legal setbacks, he now has a bold new plan: buy the landfill himself.
A Costly Mistake That Became a Billion-Dollar Problem
Back in August 2013, Howells was cleaning out his house when he mistakenly tossed the wrong hard drive into the trash. Thinking it was a blank drive with no data, he left it in a bag for his then-partner to take to the dump.
Only later, as bitcoin’s value skyrocketed, did he realize his mistake. The cryptocurrency stored on that lost hard drive—worth around $9 million at the time—has since ballooned to an astonishing $800 million.
But without the hard drive, Howells can’t access his bitcoin.
Every bitcoin transaction requires a private key, a unique code stored in a wallet. According to Judge Andrew Keyser, who ruled against Howells in January, the hard drive contains a record of that private key, similar to having it written on a piece of paper.
Without the key, the fortune remains locked forever.
Years of Legal Battles—And Now a Bold New Plan
Determined to retrieve his lost bitcoin, Howells has spent years battling Newport City Council, which controls the Docksway Landfill where the hard drive is believed to be buried.
2021: He offered the council $70 million for permission to dig. Rejected.
2023: He took legal action, seeking permission to excavate. Dismissed by a UK judge.
2024: With all legal avenues exhausted, he has a new strategy: buy the landfill.
“Am considering purchasing a landfill site. Funding secured,” Howells wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, confirming reports from UK media. However, he has not disclosed where the funding is coming from.
CNN has reached out to Howells for further comment.
Why Won’t Newport City Council Allow Excavation?
Despite Howells’ repeated attempts, Newport City Council has consistently refused to grant permission to dig up the landfill.
Environmental concerns – The council has stated that excavation would have a “huge environmental impact“ on the surrounding area.
Licensing restrictions – Their permit does not allow for such a project.
Cost concerns – Digging up, storing, and treating the waste could cost millions of pounds, with no guarantee of finding the hard drive or that it would still work.
The council previously told CNN that the landfill is set to close between 2025 and 2026, making Howells’ window of opportunity even smaller.
What’s Next?
Howells’ plan to buy the landfill is his latest and most ambitious attempt yet. If successful, he would have full control over the site and could finally begin the search for his missing bitcoin.
But even if he gains ownership, the challenges remain:
Locating the hard drive in a landfill that has been growing for over a decade.
Ensuring the device is still functional after years of exposure to the elements.
Covering the massive excavation costs required to dig through tons of waste.
With bitcoin prices continuing to rise, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Will Howells finally recover his lost fortune, or will the hard drive remain buried forever?
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