Man Sues for $500M Bitcoin Buried in Landfill After Decade-Long Battle

Howells argues that the drive could still be recoverable and has assembled a team of experts prepared to dig for it at no cost to the council. However, environmental concerns have led the council to repeatedly block his excavation attempts.

BREAKING: $500M Bitcoin Buried in Landfill: Man Sues City After Decade-Long Battle for Recovery#Bitcoin #BTC $BTC

— Crypto Chiefs News (@CryptoChiefNews) October 14, 2024

How a Miscommunication Led to the Lost Bitcoin Fortune

The incident dates back to 2013 when Howells accidentally threw away the hard drive containing his bitcoins. At the time, the bitcoins were worth less than £1 million. A miscommunication with his partner led to the hard drive being discarded, and by the time Howells realized the mistake, it was too late. The hard drive had already been sent to the landfill, beginning his decade-long mission to recover it.

Over the years, Howells has made numerous proposals to the council, including offering 10% of the recovered bitcoins, worth approximately £41 million based on current rates, to the city. Despite his persistence and his team’s belief that they can safely excavate the site using advanced technology, Newport City Council has repeatedly denied his requests, citing environmental risks associated with disturbing the landfill.

Legal Battle and Efforts to Recover the Bitcoin

Howells’ legal case hinges on his belief that the bitcoin hard drive can still be recovered. His team of experts, including specialists in landfill excavation and data recovery, believes there is an 80% chance the hard drive can be located and the data retrieved. The £10 million excavation would be privately funded, meaning no cost to Newport City Council. However, despite these assurances, the council remains firm in its refusal, leaving the case to be decided in court.

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Howells has devoted his life to this project, even quitting his IT job to focus entirely on recovering the hard drive. He continues to fight against the council’s decisions, and until the court definitively rules against him, Howells has no intention of giving up. He acknowledges that his financial situation has worsened over the years but remains focused on recovering what he considers to be his rightful fortune.

Key Insights:

• James Howells is suing Newport City Council for $647 million after being denied permission to excavate a landfill to recover his 7,500 bitcoins.

• Howells mistakenly discarded the hard drive in 2013, when the bitcoins were worth less than £1 million.

• Despite environmental concerns raised by the council, Howells’ team of experts believes the hard drive can be safely recovered using advanced technology.