James Howells lost a fortune. Now, he wants to buy a landfill to get it back.
For 12 years, Howells has fought to recover a hard drive that holds the key to a Bitcoin wallet worth about $800 million. The device, buried under thousands of tons of trash in a South Wales landfill, remains out of reach.
Newport City Council, which controls the site, has repeatedly denied his requests to excavate the area. Now, in a last-ditch effort, Howells has proposed a bold solution: let him buy the entire landfill.
A Costly Mistake
In 2013, Howells mistakenly tossed the hard drive while cleaning his office. It contained a private key for Bitcoin he had mined years earlier. At the time, Bitcoin was nearly worthless. Today, it’s a different story.
By the time he realized his mistake, the device had already been buried under layers of waste. Since then, he has tried everything to retrieve it. He’s hired legal experts, consulted excavation teams, and even mapped the landfill’s layout. Still, the council refuses to budge.
The City Says No
Officials argue that digging up the site would be expensive and risky. They claim that even if the hard drive is found, its data might be unsalvageable. A judge has sided with the council, stating that Howells’ search is unlikely to succeed.
To make matters worse, the city plans to permanently close the landfill, sealing his Bitcoin treasure under concrete.
A Last Attempt
Howells isn’t giving up. If he can’t dig, he wants to own the landfill. He argues that his plan benefits both sides—he gets to search for his hard drive, and the city gets a cleaned-up site.
So far, the council hasn’t responded to his offer. Their 2023 statement remains firm: they will not assist him in any way. But Howells believes the city should reconsider, especially given the landfill’s long-term costs.
The Crypto Dream Lives On
The cryptocurrency world is full of stories like this—lost fortunes, forgotten keys, and missed opportunities. Some people walk away. Others, like Howells, refuse to quit.
“This needle is worth $800 million,” he says. “I’ll search every piece of hay to find it.”
Will he succeed? The city isn’t betting on it. But Howells is willing to take that gamble—one last time.
