UK Judge Dismisses the Case of a Lost Hard Drive Worth $770 Million
James Howells, an IT specialist from Newport, Wales, has failed in his legal attempt to gain access to a landfill where he believes a hard drive containing over $770 million worth of bitcoin is buried. The judge ruled that the case has "no real prospect" of success.
The Lost Hard Drive with Bitcoin
The story began in 2013 when Howells accidentally discarded a hard drive containing 8,000 bitcoins he mined in 2009. At that time, the cryptocurrency had minimal value, but its price has since skyrocketed. In 2024, when bitcoin hit an all-time high of $100,000, the value of the bitcoins on the hard drive exceeded $770 million.
The hard drive ended up in Newport’s municipal landfill, but the local council repeatedly denied Howells access to the site due to strict environmental regulations.
Judge Keyser's Court Ruling
On January 9, 2025, Judge Keyser, presiding over the commercial court for Wales, dismissed Howells’ lawsuit. According to the judge, the case has "no real prospects" of success, effectively halting further legal proceedings.
The court’s dismissal marks another setback for Howells, who has been fighting for more than a decade to gain access to the landfill.
Repeated Rejections from the Council
Since 2013, Howells has repeatedly asked the Newport City Council for permission to search the landfill. He even offered the city a share of the recovered bitcoins, but his requests were consistently denied. The council argued that excavations would cause "significant negative environmental impact."
In October 2024, the council issued an official statement reiterating that excavations were impossible due to environmental regulations. The council also stated that Howells’ claims about alleged environmental violations at the landfill were not relevant.
Howells’ Accusations Against the Council
Howells alleged that the council violated its landfill permit. According to him, the landfill was polluting the surrounding area with hazardous substances such as arsenic, asbestos, ammonium nitrate, and methane. He claimed to have "100 independently verified pieces of evidence" to support his accusations.
Despite his allegations and efforts, Howells was unable to convince either the court or the council to allow him to search the landfill and attempt to recover his lost fortune.
What Are the Broader Implications of This Case?
Howells’ story highlights the risks associated with storing cryptocurrencies and the consequences of strict environmental regulations. The loss of a hard drive containing such a large fortune also demonstrates how dramatically the value of cryptocurrencies can change over time. Despite his legal defeat, Howells remains a symbol of relentless determination to recover his lost wealth.
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