Court Rejects Man’s Final Plea To Recover $750 Million In Lost Bitcoin

James Howells, an IT engineer from Newport, Wales, has officially lost his legal fight to recover a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins, now worth approximately $750 million. A judge dismissed his lawsuit against Newport City Council, ending his decade-long effort to search a local landfill for the discarded device.

Howells mistakenly threw away the hard drive in 2013 when Bitcoin had little value. As the cryptocurrency’s worth skyrocketed, he repeatedly sought permission to excavate the landfill, offering to fully fund the recovery operation and share 25% of any recovered funds with the council and the local community.

Despite his proposals, the Newport City Council consistently denied his requests, citing environmental hazards and logistical challenges associated with digging through 1.4 million tons of waste. Howells claimed he had pinpointed the hard drive’s location within a 100,000-ton area, but the council refused to allow any excavation.

Judge Keyser KC ruled that Howells had no “reasonable grounds” for his claim and no realistic chance of success. The judge also sided with the council’s argument that it owns all contents of the landfill, including the lost hard drive, legally barring Howells from accessing it.

Following the ruling, Howells expressed frustration, calling the decision a “kick in the teeth.” He criticized the legal system for denying him a full trial to explain his detailed recovery plan. “I’ve spent years trying to work with the council, but they won’t even have a proper conversation with me,” he said.

Over the years, Howells had assembled a team of data recovery specialists and environmental experts to assist in the recovery effort. However, concerns over environmental impact and legal barriers ultimately made the search impossible.

This ruling brings a definitive end to one of the most well-known stories in cryptocurrency history. Howells’ journey serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved with managing digital assets and the legal challenges that can arise when attempting to recover lost property.