James Howells, a resident of the UK, attempted to sue the local council to recover his hard drive containing 8,000 bitcoins, but the court dismissed the case.

James Howells, a resident of Newport, UK, attempted to sue the local council to recover his hard drive containing 8,000 bitcoins (worth approximately $770 million), but the court dismissed the case. According to the BBC, Welsh commercial judge Keyser ruled that the case had 'no chance of success.' Howells' hard drive was mistakenly discarded in a landfill in 2013, and the Newport council has repeatedly rejected his requests to excavate, citing environmental permit restrictions and the potential for severe environmental impact. Despite Howells' numerous proposals to share the bitcoin profits and even accusations against the council for violating environmental regulations, permission has never been granted. The case has garnered widespread attention as the price of bitcoin is expected to surpass $100,000 in 2024, and Howells' hard drive has become one of the most famous 'lost treasures' in bitcoin history. (Cointelegraph)