Man Battles Council in Court Over £600m Bitcoin Hard Drive Buried in Landfill

James Howells seeks legal access to a Newport landfill, claiming he can pinpoint the location of a hard drive containing a fortune in Bitcoin lost over a decade ago.

James Howells accidentally discarded a hard drive in 2013 containing 7,500 Bitcoin, now worth an estimated £600 million.
Newport City Council argues the hard drive legally became its property under waste disposal laws and opposes excavation due to environmental concerns.
Howells claims to have identified the exact area of the landfill where the hard drive is located and proposes a precise, environmentally compliant excavation plan.
The council has sought to have the case dismissed, citing legal ownership of landfill contents and the potential cost to taxpayers of addressing Howells' claims.
A judge in Cardiff has reserved the decision on whether the case will proceed to a full trial, with Howells vowing to continue his legal battle if necessary.