In Newport, UK, a high-stakes dispute triggered by 'trash' is about to unfold in court. Programmer James Howells has endured an 11-year 'treasure hunt' over a lost hard drive, which contains Bitcoin valued at approximately £569 million (equivalent to 5.19 billion RMB), making this event even more bizarre.
The Origins of the Hard Drive: From Ordinary to Invaluable
The story dates back to 2009. At that time, Bitcoin had just emerged, and James, out of curiosity, purchased 7,500 Bitcoins, storing the electronic keys on a hard drive. However, as Bitcoin had not yet entered the mainstream spotlight, he did not take this investment seriously.
In 2012, an accident led to the hard drive being replaced, and regrettably, it was subsequently tossed into a drawer. Worse still, in early 2013, James's girlfriend, Eddie, mistakenly threw the hard drive away along with other trash while cleaning the room. By then, the value of Bitcoin had gradually begun to reveal itself, but James was unaware of this.
It wasn't until November 2013 that news about the appreciation of Bitcoin awakened him: this discarded hard drive stored a fortune. Unfortunately, the trash had already been transported to the landfill, buried beneath thick piles of garbage.
The Start of the Tug-of-War: The Game with the Government
Realizing the seriousness of the hard drive's loss, James resigned from his job and began searching for the hard drive full-time. He deduced its exact burial location through a series of calculations and submitted an excavation application to the city council. However, the local government repeatedly rejected his requests citing environmental pollution risks, high economic and labor costs.
As Bitcoin prices soared, the tug-of-war escalated. James attempted to gain support through crowdfunding, raising £7.4 million in 'treasure funds', and even invited data experts from NASA to join, promising to give 30% of the Bitcoin as a reward if the hard drive was found and data successfully recovered. Nevertheless, the city council still insisted on refusing to approve his excavation plan.
Loss and Gain: The Nightmare of Wealth
As time passed, Bitcoin prices continued to rise. By 2022, James's 'virtual wealth' had reached £440 million, even surpassing the personal wealth of the late Queen of the United Kingdom. However, this wealth remained out of his reach.
His personal life also became a mess because of this hard drive. He and his girlfriend constantly fought due to mutual accusations, ultimately leading to their breakup. Even the landfill had to increase security and surveillance to prevent anyone from secretly coming to dig.
New Offensive: Breaking Through with Intellectual Property Litigation
In 2023, James adjusted his strategy, suing the city council for infringing on his intellectual property on the hard drive, and once again tried to compel the city council to approve the excavation plan through the courts. This time, he received more support, including backing from landfill managers and some citizens. However, the city council still maintained that James's requests lacked practical basis, and even if the hard drive was found, data recovery might not be successful, making the risks of the excavation plan still enormous.
The Illusion of Wealth and the Cost of Obsession
James's story is both poignant and thought-provoking. A hard drive has become a chasm between reality and wealth, and it all originated from a simple room organization. Perhaps, the value of wealth lies not in its numbers, but in how one perceives its gains and losses.
Regardless of the final outcome, this exorbitant dispute involving Bitcoin, environmental protection, and obsession is destined to become one of the most bizarre legends in real life. How will the court rule in the future? Let us wait and see.
