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2mo ago

Man Offers to Buy Landfill in Final Bid to Recover Lost Bitcoin Worth $800 Million

James Howells, who accidentally discarded a hard drive containing his bitcoin key in 2013, proposes purchasing the landfill after years of failed attempts to retrieve it.

An aerial view of the Docksway Landfill site in Newport, Wales
James Howells accidentally threw away the hard drive that allows him to access his bitcoin.
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Overview

  • James Howells accidentally threw away a hard drive in 2013 containing the private key to access bitcoin now valued at nearly $800 million.
  • After years of legal battles with Newport City Council in South Wales, Howells has proposed buying the landfill outright to search for the lost device.
  • Howells' previous offers to fund excavation and share a portion of the bitcoin's value with the council were rejected due to environmental and logistical concerns.
  • A British High Court recently dismissed his case, ruling there was no realistic prospect of success in recovering the hard drive.
  • The Newport landfill is scheduled to close within the next year, adding urgency to Howells' proposal to clean up the site and convert it for other uses.