Key Takeaways
- James Howells lost his latest appeal to excavate a landfill for his Bitcoin hard drive.
- Newport City Council plans to turn the landfill into a solar farm by 2026.
- Howells now plans to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights.
James Howells, a Welsh IT worker who accidentally discarded a hard drive containing 8,000 bitcoins, has lost another legal appeal to dig up a Newport landfill in search of his lost fortune.
Offer to Newport City Council
Despite offering $72 million to Newport City Council in 2021 and attempting to purchase the landfill outright in February, his latest appeal was denied.
The presiding judge ruled that Howells’ case had “no real prospect of success” and found “no compelling reason” for the court to consider it.
Council’s plans for the landfill
Newport City Council remains uninterested in Howells’ efforts, as it plans to seal off and convert the landfill into a solar farm by 2026.
Officials have consistently refused his requests, citing environmental and logistical concerns.
Social media reaction
Following the decision, Howells posted on social media, stating:
The Great British Injustice System strikes again… Next stop: the European Court of Human Rights.
The bigger picture
Howells’ case is among the most famous Bitcoin loss stories.
In 2021, the British government estimated that $140 billion worth of Bitcoin had been lost globally.
Even if excavation were allowed, experts say his hard drive is unlikely to be functional after years buried underground.
Determination to recover Bitcoin
Despite repeated setbacks, Howells remains determined to pursue legal avenues in an attempt to recover his lost Bitcoin.
