8,000 BTC Stuck in Landfill as British Man Takes Legal Battle to Europe

🚨 SHOCKING CRYPTO STORY: 8,000 BTC Buried in a UK Landfill—Will It Ever Be Found? 🇬🇧⛏️

For over 10 years, James Howells has been fighting to reclaim his 8,000 $BTC, dumped and buried in a UK landfill. After countless attempts and legal battles, the courts have slammed the door… pic.twitter.com/B9a8ReVhhU

— WARANDCOIN (@Warandcoin) March 18, 2025

The decision from Lord Justice Nugee was simple: “Decision: refused.” Another defeat for Howells who has been battling Newport City Council since 2013 when he threw the drive away.

Why Authorities Refuse to Grant Excavation Rights

Newport City Council have always refused, citing:

• Environmental risks of digging up the landfill.

• Ownership of items discarded in public waste facilities.

• Financial and logistical challenges of recovering the hard drive.

Howells has offered several solutions to these concerns:

• Funding an eco-friendly excavation project.

• A percentage of the recovered BTC to the city.

• Buy full ownership of the landfill to search himself.

But the authorities are sticking to their guns.

Lost treasure or lost cause? 🏴‍☠️ 8,000 BTC buried in a UK landfill, and courts keep saying NO to recovery. Should he keep fighting or let it go? 🚀💸

— AI Trading Signals w/ Free Trial 💰 (@AiTradingSig) March 18, 2025

Next Legal Step: European Court of Human Rights

Fed up with being knocked back, Howells tweeted on X (formerly Twitter): “Next stop: ECHR.” The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), based in Strasbourg, France, deals with human rights violations under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Howells will argue that his property rights have been violated, that he should have access to his lost digital assets. But experts say his case has major hurdles as the ECHR tends to focus on fundamental human rights and not financial disputes.

For now his $600 million is buried and whether the ECHR will hear his case is still to be decided.