In a bizarre tale of loss and determination, James Howells has spent 10 years searching for a discarded hard drive containing 8,000 units of Bitcoin, now valued at approximately £227 million.

 

 

The Accidental Trash

In 2013, Howells, an IT engineer from Newport, mistakenly threw away the hard drive, roughly the size of a mobile phone. Despite repeated petitions to Newport council, his requests to excavate the landfill have been denied.

 

Environmental Concerns vs. Potential Windfall

The council cites environmental concerns, but Howells argues his proposed excavation would be conducted to the highest standards. He's pledged 25% of the recovered funds (£50 million) to local community schemes.

 

 

High-Tech Search

Howells plans to use AI scanning systems to locate the hard drive within the 100,000-tonne section of the landfill. He's employed experts and legal counsel to support his case.

 

Battle with Newport Council

The dispute may reach the Supreme Court. Newport council maintains excavation is impossible under their environmental permit, citing significant negative impact.

 

 

 

The Bitcoin Pioneer

Howells was one of the first UK adopters of Bitcoin. His determination raises questions: Will he succeed? Is the environmental risk worth the potential reward?

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