Bitcoin Miner Considers Purchasing Landfill to Recover $768M in Lost Assets

James Howells, a British Bitcoin miner, is considering purchasing a public landfill in Newport, South Wales, after years of legal battles and efforts to recover a massive fortune he believes is buried there. Howells claims that a hard drive containing 7,500 Bitcoin (BTC) was discarded by his former partner in 2013 at the landfill, and that the device has been buried under tonnes of waste ever since. The Bitcoin in question was mined by Howells back in 2009 when Bitcoin was worth just a few cents. If the claim holds true, the 7,500 BTC would now be worth an estimated $768 million.

Howells’ attempts to recover the hard drive have been ongoing for years, during which he has petitioned Newport City Council for permission to excavate the landfill. He has even offered the council a portion of the recovered fortune as an incentive to allow the search. The landfill site, however, contains a staggering 1.4 million tonnes of waste, and Howells believes that his hard drive is likely buried within a smaller, 100,000-tonne area. He has cited the findings of an investigation he commissioned, which he claims points to the potential location of the hard drive.

However, his request has been consistently rejected by the Newport City Council, which asserts that local laws give the government rights over any property that enters the landfill, including any discarded items like the hard drive. Recently, a court dismissed Howells’ claim, ruling that the evidence he presented was insufficient and that too much time had passed since the hard drive was discarded. In addition, the local authorities have plans to close the landfill during the 2025-2026 financial year and convert part of the site into a solar farm.

Despite the court ruling against him, Howells has not given up hope. He expressed his shock at the decision, particularly since the council had argued that granting him permission to search the landfill would have a detrimental impact on the local community. Howells is now considering escalating his case to the Supreme Court in an attempt to gain the right to search the landfill. He has also raised the possibility of purchasing the landfill outright, believing that doing so might give him the legal grounds to excavate the site and recover the hard drive containing the valuable Bitcoin.

Howells has also noted that the value of Bitcoin could continue to rise, which would increase the worth of the lost fortune. If Bitcoin follows its upward trend, he believes that the value of the 7,500 BTC could reach as high as $1.2 billion by 2026. This potential windfall has motivated Howells to continue his pursuit, despite the obstacles he has faced.

His case has captured significant attention, highlighting the enduring value of early Bitcoin mining and the lengths to which some individuals will go to recover lost fortunes. Whether Howells will be successful in his quest remains uncertain, but his determination to reclaim the lost Bitcoin, even if it means purchasing the landfill, demonstrates the extraordinary measures he is willing to take to retrieve what he believes is rightfully his.