Key Takeaways
- James Howells is suing Newport City Council for $647 million over lost Bitcoin.
- The council has repeatedly refused excavation due to environmental risks.
- Howells lost 8,000 Bitcoin, now worth half a billion pounds, in a 2013 cleanout.
James Howells, an IT engineer from Newport, is seeking 495 million British pounds ($647 million) in damages after losing a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin.
Howells mistakenly threw the drive away in 2013 during a household cleanout, and the Bitcoin, now worth nearly half a billion pounds, has been sitting in a local landfill ever since.
Requests rejected
Despite multiple efforts to recover the hard drive, Newport City Council has consistently rejected his requests to excavate the site, citing environmental concerns.
The landfill contains hazardous materials like asbestos and methane, and the council argues that digging could risk damaging the area.
Court
Howells has assembled a legal team and is taking the council to court, with the case scheduled for December.
In 2022, Howells proposed an $11 million plan involving the use of robots to sift through 110,000 tonnes of trash to find the lost drive.
He even offered the council 10% of the Bitcoin’s value if it was recovered. However, the council remains firm in its opposition, questioning both the legality and practicality of Howells’ request.
