Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
A British man named James Howells is convinced that a hard drive containing more than $700 million in bitcoin is buried somewhere in a landfill site in Newport in the United Kingdom. He mistakenly discarded the storage unit more than a decade ago, in 2013.
When Newport City Council learned of the situation months later, it made it clear that recovering the hard drive would have required swift action. The reasoning was that each passing day added more layers of garbage and dirt on top of the lost device, making its recovery increasingly difficult.
Seeking a Lost Treasure for Decades
It’s unclear when Howells filed a formal request to search the landfill for the hard drive, but Wired reported in 2017 that local authorities denied him access. As his fortune continued to grow, the hard drive became increasingly buried under tons of waste.
Howells has adamantly insisted on his quest in recent years, though without success. He even secured sponsors to cover the costs of the work, which could take several months. He also promised to donate 10% of his bitcoins to the city council if he achieved his goal.
However, the council has repeatedly rejected his requests. It cited several reasons, including concerns about the potential negative environmental impact of the search and the belief that the device is likely in an unusable condition. Faced with this refusal, Howells sued Newport City Council last year.
The plaintiff’s attempt to offer a bitcoin reward to the city council was deemed a “bribe.” The case was taken to the High Court, which dismissed it. In mid-January, Judge Keyser KC ruled that the claim had “no realistic prospect of succeeding.”
It appeared that Howells had lost any opportunity for action. However, an unexpected development has given him new hope. Newport has announced plans to close the landfill and convert part of the land into a solar farm, prompting Howells to act quickly.
One challenge during his search was that the landfill needed to be closed for several months. The city council believed that it would negatively impact local residents. Now, things seem to be changing.
“If Newport City Council would be willing, I would potentially be interested in purchasing the landfill site ‘as is’ and have discussed this option with investment partners and it is something that is very much on the table,” Howells said on Monday. Whether he’ll succeed this time remains to be seen.
Image | Kanchanara
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