Man Seeks to Retrieve $784 Million in Lost Bitcoin from Landfill
A man who claims to have lost a staggering $784 million worth of bitcoin (BTC) in a landfill is now in talks with investors about the possibility of purchasing the land, according to a report by the BBC on Monday. James Howells, the individual in question, stated, “I have discussed this option recently with investment partners, and it is very much on the table.“
Howells recounts a troubling incident from 2013 when his ex-girlfriend inadvertently disposed of a hard drive containing 8,000 bitcoin at a landfill site located at Newport’s Docks Way. Over the past decade, he has made numerous requests to Newport Council in an effort to retrieve the lost fortune, but he claims that his pleas have largely gone unanswered.
The Newport Council has chosen not to comment on the matter, as reported by the BBC. In a bid to reclaim his lost assets, Howells attempted to sue the council for 495 million pounds (approximately $646 million), which represented the peak valuation of the bitcoin in early 2024. However, his lawsuit was dismissed by a judge in January.
As the situation unfolds, the local authorities plan to close the landfill site in the upcoming financial year and have received permission to construct a solar power farm on the very same land.
