In 2013, James Howells from Newport, Wales, mistakenly discarded a hard drive containing access keys to 8,000 bitcoins he mined in 2009. At today’s value, the cryptocurrency stash is worth an astonishing $720 million. Howells’ ongoing legal battle with Newport City Council, which refuses his requests to excavate the landfill, has drawn global attention to his plight.
A Costly Mistake
Howells’ ordeal began when his girlfriend, Halfina Eddy-Evans, inadvertently threw out the wrong hard drive while helping him declutter. She had no idea it contained the key to a fortune.
“I threw away his rubbish as he asked me to. I didn’t know what was in it,” Eddy-Evans told Mail Online. “I’d love nothing more than for him to find it, but I’m tired of hearing about it.”
The mix-up involved two identical laptop drives: one blank and the other holding the keys to the bitcoins. Since then, Howells has been tirelessly seeking permission to search the Newport landfill, where the hard drive is presumed buried under tons of waste.
Legal Standoff with the Council
Despite offering to fund the excavation and pledging 10% of the proceeds to benefit the local community, Howells’ efforts have been repeatedly denied. Newport City Council argues that the environmental and logistical risks outweigh the potential benefits.
“Excavation is not possible under our environmental permit,” a council spokesperson said. “Such work would have a huge negative impact on the surrounding area.”
Howells, however, remains undeterred. He has assembled a team of experts and filed a legal challenge against the council. The case is scheduled for a December hearing at Cardiff High Court.
“I still own the intellectual digital property on the hard drive,” Howells asserts. “I’m either entitled to recover it at my cost or be compensated for its value.”
A Modern-Day Treasure Hunt
Howells’ story highlights the high stakes of the cryptocurrency world, where lost keys can mean lost millions. It also underscores the growing tension between environmental regulations and technological dilemmas.
As Howells waits for his day in court, his tale serves as a cautionary reminder to safeguard digital assets and underscores the unpredictable intersections of technology, law, and human error.
