Man’s $620M Bitcoin Buried in Landfill: His Relentless Battle to Dig It Up

James Howells lost a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins, now worth £620 million, in a Newport landfill in 2013. After losing a legal battle to excavate the site, he plans to appeal using AI and explore buying the landfill outright. Despite opposition from the council, he remains determined to recover his fortune.

Man’s $620M Bitcoin Buried in Landfill: His Relentless Battle to Dig It Up

James Howells has been on a relentless quest to recover a lost hard drive containing Bitcoin now valued at approximately £620 million. Despite numerous obstacles, including a recent legal setback, he remains determined to retrieve it, considering this endeavor his “9 to 5 job.”

In 2013, Howells, a resident of Newport, Wales, accidentally lost a hard drive storing 8,000 Bitcoins when his former partner mistakenly discarded it. The device ended up in a landfill owned by Newport City Council. Over the past decade, as Bitcoin’s value has skyrocketed, Howells has persistently sought access to the site to recover his digital fortune.

His latest legal battle ended unfavorably when a High Court judge dismissed his case, denying him access to the landfill or the £495 million in compensation he sought. The court ruled that there were no “reasonable grounds” for the claim and “no realistic prospect” of success in a full trial. However, Howells refuses to abandon his mission. He now plans to take his case to the Court of Appeal, representing himself with the assistance of artificial intelligence. Additionally, he has expressed interest in purchasing the landfill site outright after learning that the council intends to close it by 2026.

Newport City Council has consistently opposed his efforts, arguing that environmental regulations prohibit excavation of the landfill. The council previously stated that any attempt to recover the hard drive would have a “huge negative environmental impact.” Furthermore, during the High Court trial, the council asserted that once the hard drive entered the landfill, it legally became council property. Howells disputes this, emphasizing that he never consented to its disposal.

Undeterred by these challenges, Howells is pursuing two potential paths forward. First, he intends to present his case before the Court of Appeal, arguing that the council’s planned closure of the site should have been disclosed during the initial trial. He believes this is “material information” that could influence the legal proceedings.

Second, he is exploring the possibility of purchasing the landfill. Howells claims to have preliminary agreements with investors from the Middle East and the United States who are willing to fund the acquisition, provided the council agrees to sell. He argues that buying and excavating the site would not only enable him to retrieve his hard drive but also save the council significant long-term maintenance costs. His proposed plan involves extracting and recycling every piece of waste, ultimately leaving behind an empty landfill.

The council, however, has given no indication that it is open to selling the site. It has already secured planning permission to install a solar farm on part of the land once the landfill is decommissioned.

Howells remains convinced that the hard drive is still buried within the landfill, which contains over 1.4 million tonnes of waste. He insists he has conducted extensive research and spoken to site managers who have confirmed that items disposed of in the landfill remain there.

When asked if he would ever give up his quest, Howells firmly responded, “Absolutely not. This is like the final battle in Braveheart.”

The Early Days of Bitcoin

Howells was one of the early adopters of Bitcoin, having mined the cryptocurrency in 2009 when it was worth only a fraction of its current value. At the time, Bitcoin was largely associated with a niche group of enthusiasts known as Cypherpunks, who were fascinated by its decentralized and anonymous nature.

Bitcoin’s popularity surged in 2016 and 2017, with prices reaching unprecedented levels. Another significant boom occurred in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when stock markets, cryptocurrencies, and so-called “meme coins” experienced massive gains. The most recent spike happened in late 2024, following Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election. His administration is perceived as more crypto-friendly compared to the Biden administration, fueling optimism in the cryptocurrency market.

According to Billy Bambrough, author of the CryptoCodex newsletter, Bitcoin’s rapid rise has led many to believe its value could continue to climb. “I can understand why James Howells is so determined to find his Bitcoin,” he remarked.

The Future of Howells’ Quest

As Howells prepares for his appeal, he is leveraging artificial intelligence to assist with legal research and case preparation. He described AI as an “amazing technology” that has helped him better understand court procedures and legal principles. He believes he has at least seven strong legal arguments to present to the Court of Appeal, which he hopes to argue in person.

Whether he succeeds in court or manages to buy the landfill, Howells remains steadfast in his belief that his hard drive—and his Bitcoin fortune—are still within reach. His decade-long struggle serves as both a cautionary tale and a testament to the lengths some will go to reclaim lost wealth in the digital age.