James Howells battles Newport council for £598m Bitcoin hard drive buried in landfill

In Newport, Wales, James Howells lost a hard drive containing a large amount of Bitcoin, which he estimated to be worth nearly £600 million, in 2013. After his former partner accidentally disposed of the hard drive at a landfill, Howells spent years trying to engage with the Newport City Council to retrieve it, believing that he could locate it within a specific area of the landfill. His legal quest culminated in a lawsuit against the council, where he not only sought permission to excavate but also offered to fund the recovery and share a portion of the Bitcoin with the council. However, the council argued that the hard drive became its property upon disposal, and that environmental regulations forbade such excavations. In a courtroom ruling by Circuit Commercial Judge for Wales, Judge Keyser, Howell's claims were dismissed, stating that there were no reasonable grounds for bringing the case, and no realistic prospect of success. Judge Keyser’s remarks highlighted the council’s ownership of the site and the potential lack of compelling reasons for the trial. Howells expressed his disappointment over the ruling, stating it robbed him of the opportunity for justice and frustrated his efforts to engage in meaningful dialogue with the council over the years. Describing the decision as a major blow to his hopes, he emphasized that his motivation was not greed; rather, he desired a fair chance at recovering what he believed was rightfully his. This legal battle, characterized as a decade-long saga, raises questions about landfill ownership, waste management laws, and the fate of lost digital assets like Bitcoin. In recent years, Bitcoin's value skyrocketed, intensifying the urgency behind Howells' quest. His situation has garnered public sympathy and shed light on the complexities surrounding digital assets and property rights, especially in cases involving lost items in large waste disposal sites.