British Court Rejects Bitcoin Treasure Hunt, James Howells Determined to Find Lost 8,000 Bitcoins
| Key Points: – The UK Court of Appeal denied James Howells’ request to excavate a landfill in Newport, Wales, where he believes his hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins. – Newport City Council has repeatedly refused Howells’ proposals, citing environmental risks and financial concerns. – After exhausting all legal options in the UK, Howells now plans to appeal to the ECHR in a final attempt to recover his lost fortune. |
The British Court of Appeal has dismissed a Welsh man’s final legal attempt to excavate a landfill in search of a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins, worth approximately $675 million at current market rates.
James Howells, a software engineer who mined the Bitcoin in 2009, has spent years trying to gain access to the Docksway landfill in Newport, Wales, where he believes his hard drive was discarded in 2013.
UK Court Rejects James Howells’s Bitcoin Treasure Hunt Appeal
James Howells legal battle against Newport City Council has been ongoing, but the latest ruling effectively ends his chances of excavation under UK law.
On Friday, Howells shared a screenshot of the appeals court’s decision on X, revealing that Judge Nugee denied his application, citing a lack of “any real prospect of success” and no compelling reason for the case to proceed further. Undeterred, Howells now plans to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), arguing that he has been unfairly denied the opportunity to retrieve his lost fortune.
The legal dispute began when Howells mistakenly disposed of the hard drive, which contained the private keys to his Bitcoin holdings. Over the years, he has proposed various plans to recover it, including assembling a team of experts and securing funding for an excavation effort.
Newport City Council initially expressed willingness to return the hard drive if found, but their position hardened over time. Officials have argued that excavation would be costly, pose an environmental risk, and could attract unauthorized treasure hunters. They have also pointed to the possibility that the device, after years underground, may have suffered irreparable damage.
Howells Takes Legal Fight to European Court
Newport City Council recently announced plans to close the landfill by 2026 and repurpose the site as a solar farm. The decision further complicates Howells’ efforts, as the transformation of the area would likely make any future excavation attempts impossible.
Despite multiple rejections, James Howells has remained persistent. He previously suggested purchasing the landfill outright and even considered employing artificial intelligence specialists to strengthen his legal arguments. Additionally, he proposed a profit-sharing scheme that would allocate 25% of any recovered Bitcoin to the Newport community as an incentive.
Howells has even explored unconventional methods, including the potential use of an artificial intelligence agent specializing in UK law to strengthen his case. His determination stems from Bitcoin’s soaring value, with lost holdings becoming a common yet painful reality for early investors.
In 2021, UK government estimates suggested around $140 billion worth of Bitcoin had been lost—an amount that has since grown significantly.
While Howells remains determined, experts note the odds are stacked against him. Even if he gains permission to dig, the likelihood of retrieving a functional hard drive after more than a decade remains slim.
| DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing. |
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