James Howells, a computer engineer from Newport, is seeking to purchase the landfill site where he believes a hard drive containing 8,000 bitcoins, valued at £620 million, was buried. This follows a legal battle in which his claim for access to the site was dismissed by a judge on February 10, 2025.
- Engineer lost £620m in Bitcoin.
- Hard drive discarded by ex-girlfriend.
- Lawsuit against Newport council dismissed.
- Council plans to close landfill site.
- Howells considers purchasing landfill area.
- Bitcoin is a virtual currency.
In 2013, Howells lost the hard drive containing the bitcoins when his ex-girlfriend accidentally threw it away. He attempted to sue the Newport City Council for access to the landfill site on Docks Way or to receive £495 million in compensation. However, his case was dismissed by Judge Keyser, who stated there were no grounds for the claim and that there was “no realistic prospect” of success at trial due to the significant time elapsed since the loss.
The Newport landfill currently holds over 1.4 million tonnes of waste, and Howells believes the hard drive is located within an area containing about 100,000 tonnes of that waste. The council has announced plans to close the landfill in the 2025-26 financial year and has obtained planning permission for a solar farm on the site, which is expected to power new bin lorries.
Howells expressed surprise at the council’s decision to close the landfill, especially since they previously argued that allowing him to search would negatively impact the community. He is also considering an appeal against the judge’s ruling, as he believes he still has a chance to recover his lost fortune.
In summary, James Howells is determined to recover his lost bitcoins and is now exploring the possibility of purchasing the landfill site. Despite his legal setbacks, he remains hopeful about appealing the judge’s decision and potentially reclaiming his significant investment.
