James Howells is on a mission to retrieve a hard drive containing 8,000 bitcoins, currently valued at approximately £620 million, which he lost in a landfill in Newport, Wales, over a decade ago. Despite a recent High Court ruling against his claim for access to the landfill, Howells remains determined to recover the drive, stating that he will not give up on his quest.
- James Howells lost hard drive with Bitcoin.
- Legal attempts to recover it have failed.
- Plans to represent himself using AI.
- Council argues hard drive is their property.
- Investors interested in funding site purchase.
- Bitcoin value has significantly increased recently.
Howells lost the hard drive in 2013 when his former partner mistakenly discarded it. Since then, he has made multiple attempts to gain access to the landfill, which is owned by Newport City Council. In January 2025, a High Court judge ruled against his claim for access, citing a lack of reasonable grounds and realistic prospects for success. The council has also expressed concerns about the environmental impact of excavating the site.
Howells, who began mining Bitcoin in 2009, believes the hard drive remains buried in the landfill, which contains over 1.4 million tonnes of waste. He has organized a team of experts to assist in the search and has previously offered the council a share of the Bitcoin if they allow him to recover it. He is now preparing to represent himself in the Court of Appeal, using artificial intelligence to support his case.
In addition to pursuing legal action, Howells is exploring the option of purchasing the landfill site. He claims to have preliminary agreements with investors from the Middle East and the united states who are willing to fund the purchase if the council agrees to sell. The council has not indicated any interest in selling the site, which is slated for closure in the 2025-26 financial year.
Howells remains optimistic about his chances of retrieving the hard drive, stating that he has conducted thorough research and believes that every item placed in the landfill is still there. His determination reflects a long-standing commitment to recovering his lost investment in Bitcoin, which has seen a significant rise in value in recent months.
In summary, James Howells continues to pursue the recovery of a hard drive containing Bitcoin worth £620 million, despite setbacks in his legal efforts. He is now preparing to appeal the High Court’s decision and is exploring the possibility of purchasing the landfill site to facilitate the recovery.
