Man’s Quest to Recover £620 Million Digital Wallet

It has been over ten years since James Howells’ hard drive, which contained Bitcoin valued at hundreds of millions, ended up in a landfill.

Despite facing many obstacles, he remains dedicated to recovering it.

He stated, “This is my job, if you will. My 9 to 5,” and emphasized he would “absolutely not” relent in his efforts.

With the cryptocurrency’s value surging in recent times and his hard drive now estimated at £620 million, Mr. Howells commented, “It makes sense for me to concentrate my efforts on this,” even though he is involved in other cryptocurrency ventures.

Howells, who is from Newport, alleges that his ex-partner accidentally discarded the hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins in 2013, which ended up at a Newport City Council-owned tip.

Last month, a High Court judge rejected his request to access the landfill or receive £495 million in compensation, stating there were no “reasonable grounds” for the claim and no “realistic prospect” of succeeding in a full trial.

He is currently preparing to represent himself in a case at the Court of Appeal, employing artificial intelligence for assistance, and has shown interest in purchasing the site after the council announced plans to close it in the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Newport council has stated it will not comment further on the situation.

Mr. Howells was an early adopter of cryptocurrencies, having mined Bitcoin back in 2009 when its value was merely a fraction of what it is today.

He claims his former partner mistakenly discarded the hard drive, roughly the size of a smartphone, in 2013, and as its value surged, he assembled a team of experts to locate and recover it.

He has consistently sought permission from the council to access the site, even offering a share of the missing Bitcoin if located.

Following his legal initiation, the council sought a High Court hearing to request a dismissal of the claim, which the judge granted last month.

The council contended that its environmental permits would prohibit any excavation attempts, claiming such work “would have a substantial negative environmental impact on the surrounding area.”

Undeterred, Mr. Howells believes he has two avenues to retrieve his digital wallet: initiate a case at the Court of Appeal or collaborate with investors to acquire the landfill site, following the council’s announcement that the site is “nearing the end of its life” and slated for closure within two years.

He conveyed to BBC News that he was satisfied with his legal team’s efforts during the High Court trial but now intends to self-represent at the Court of Appeal, employing an “artificial intelligence agent” to bolster his claim.

He described AI as “an absolutely remarkable technology” that has improved his understanding of legal proceedings and believes he has seven potent legal arguments for his case, which he hopes to present personally to the Court of Appeal.

One key contention in his case revolves around the council’s closure plans for the site, a detail he argues should have been disclosed during the High Court proceedings.

“That is critical information that should have been addressed [at the trial] – the judge should have been informed about this, as should I,” he stated.

He contended that purchasing and completely excavating the site could save the council considerable maintenance expenses once it shuts down.

“Every single item would be extracted or recycled, and in the end, we would possess a hard drive and an empty landfill,” he remarked.

During the High Court trial, the council asserted that the hard drive became its property as soon as it was deposited in the landfill; however, Mr. Howells argued this disregarded that it was his ex-partner who disposed of it.

“It was taken without my permission or consent,” he stated.

Mr. Howells mentioned he is also considering purchasing the landfill from the council, asserting he has “preliminary agreements” with investors, including parties from the Middle East and the United States, who could provide funding if he obtains the requisite permissions to acquire the site.

“They’re not just going to hand me millions… but if the council shows interest in selling the site, funding will be attainable,” he expressed.

The council has not indicated any willingness to sell the site and has gained planning authorization for a solar farm on a portion of the land as part of its closure plans.

After years of pursuing this, including filing legal actions, Mr. Howells is confident that the hard drive still resides in the landfill, which holds over 1.4 million tonnes of waste.

He stated he has conducted his “due diligence and research” after speaking with a landfill site manager.

“Whatever entered that site remains there. So, where else could it be?”

When asked if he would ever abandon his quest to recover it, he replied, “Absolutely not. This is like the ultimate showdown in Braveheart.”

Bitcoin is a form of cryptocurrency, a type of virtual or digital currency that lacks physical manifestation.

Bitcoins can be divided into smaller fractions, with a satoshi representing the smallest unit.

Satoshis bear the name of Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, who is believed to be a pseudonymous figure behind a pivotal document regarding the currency in 2008.

Investors active around this time, like Mr. Howells, were part of a relatively minor cryptocurrency community known as Cypherpunks, according to Billy Bambrough, who authors the CryptoCodex newsletter.

While Bitcoin wasn’t the first cryptocurrency, it captured considerable attention, as early followers were swiftly captivated by it, remarked Mr. Bambrough.

The prices started escalating around 2016 and 2017, and surged again in 2020 during the Covid pandemic when “stock markets, cryptocurrencies, and meme coins experienced significant increases.”

According to Mr. Bambrough, “Many individuals experienced substantial gains, but others also suffered losses.”

The cryptocurrency saw rapid value appreciation in late 2024, shortly after Donald Trump’s election victory, which was perceived as favorable for cryptocurrencies compared to the current administration.

Mr. Bambrough added, “Numerous individuals in the crypto and Bitcoin communities assert that the price has risen significantly in a brief period, leading them to claim it may continue to rise further.”

“I can completely understand Mr. Howells’ eagerness to locate his Bitcoin,” he concluded.