Bitcoin Hunter: Engineer's $774M Quest for Lost Crypto Fortune

A computer engineer from Newport, Wales, is determined to retrieve his lost Bitcoin fortune, valued at approximately $774 million, by purchasing the landfill site where he believes the hard drive containing the cryptocurrency's keys is buried. The engineer, James Howells, has been searching for the hard drive since 2013, when it was mistakenly thrown out by his then-girlfriend during an office clean-up.

The landfill site on Docks Way in Newport is expected to close in the 2025-26 financial year, as it is nearly at capacity. The local council plans to build a solar farm on the land to power bin collection trucks. Upon hearing this news, Howells expressed his serious intention to purchase the site and commence a search for the hard drive.

Howells has a 5-year plan that involves purchasing, operating, and excavating the landfill site. He has accurate cost estimations for the entire process but is not yet willing to disclose them publicly. An employee from a neighboring homeware store told reporters that the area is already unpleasant due to its odor, so they are not concerned about Howells' search for his Bitcoin.

Howells' recovery team and business partners are ready to begin the search as soon as the Newport City Council is willing to discuss and negotiate the purchase of the site. The council has not yet indicated a willingness to sell the site, but Howells is eager to discuss options with them.

In the past, Howells has fought for his right to search the dump and has even taken legal action against the council. Last month, he attempted to gain access to the landfill site or sue the council for £495 million ($612 million) in compensation. However, Judge Keyser KC dismissed the case, citing a lack of reasonable grounds and no realistic prospect of success at trial. The council argued that the environmental impact of a dig was untenable.

Howells acknowledges the possibility that the hard drive's platter may be damaged beyond repair. However, he believes that there is a high chance of success due to the tiny amount of data needed to recover the 51-character private key to the elusive wallet. He and his data recovery partners are optimistic about the chances of success, given the small amount of data required to store the key information.