Bitcoin Hunter: Man's $800M Quest to Recover Lost Crypto

Generated by AI AgentCoin World
Friday, Feb 14, 2025 10:17 pm ET1min read
BTC
--

A British IT worker, James Howells, has made headlines with his ambitious plan to recover $800 million in Bitcoin that he accidentally threw away in 2013. The cryptocurrency, which was initially worth around $9 million, has since surged in value, making Howells' lost fortune a tantalizing prize.

Howells' journey to recover his lost Bitcoin has been a long and arduous one. He initially lost the hard drive containing his cryptocurrency wallet while clearing out his home, mistakenly believing it was blank. By the time he realized his error, Bitcoin's value had begun to skyrocket, making his loss all the more painful.

Over the years, Howells has made multiple attempts to access the landfill where he believes the hard drive is located. In 2021, he offered over $70 million to the local council in exchange for permission to dig up the site. However, the council has repeatedly denied his requests, citing environmental concerns and the high costs of excavation.

In January, a British High Court judge dismissed Howells' legal challenge against the council, ruling that he had no legal right to force an excavation. Judge Andrew Keyser likened the situation to losing a piece of paper with a password written on it—without the hard drive's private key record, the Bitcoin remains inaccessible.

Undeterred by these setbacks, Howells has now proposed a new plan: buying the entire landfill in a bid to recover his lost fortune. Newport City Council, which owns the landfill, has yet to respond to Howells' latest proposal. However, the council has previously stated that the landfill is set to close by the 2025/26 financial year and that excavation would not only violate its licensing permit but also pose significant environmental risks.

Despite these obstacles, Howells remains determined to reclaim his lost fortune. Whether through negotiation, legal action, or outright purchase of the landfill itself, he is committed to recovering the $800 million in Bitcoin that he believes is rightfully his.