Imagine realizing that you accidentally threw away a fortune—one worth nearly $800 million—and knowing exactly where it is, yet being unable to retrieve it. That is the reality for James Howells, a British IT worker who lost access to 8,000 Bitcoin after mistakenly discarding a hard drive in 2013.
At the time, Bitcoin was still an emerging digital currency, and Howells didn’t think twice about the hard drive he tossed in the trash. But as the price of Bitcoin skyrocketed, so did his regret. For over a decade, he has been on a relentless quest to recover what is now one of the most valuable lost assets in history.
However, his efforts have been met with resistance from the Newport City Council, which has refused to allow excavation of the landfill where the hard drive is buried. With legal avenues exhausted, Howells has proposed an extreme new solution: buying the landfill himself.
The $800 Million Mistake: How It Happened
In 2013, while cleaning his home, Howells accidentally threw away the wrong hard drive, mistaking it for a blank device. Unbeknownst to him, that drive contained the cryptographic private key needed to access his Bitcoin wallet. The hard drive was taken to the Docksway Landfill in Newport, Wales, where it was buried under layers of waste.
At the time of disposal, the Bitcoin stored on the drive was worth around $9 million—a significant amount, but nothing compared to its present-day value. By 2017, Bitcoin’s price had surged, and Howells realized that the small mistake he had made years earlier had cost him an unimaginable fortune.
Since then, he has been obsessed with retrieving the hard drive, contacting legal experts, data recovery specialists, and even proposing the use of AI and robotic technology to locate the device. But with thousands of tons of garbage standing between him and his lost wealth, recovery is no simple task.
Fighting for a Second Chance: Legal Battles and Rejections
Determined to reclaim his lost Bitcoin, Howells has made multiple attempts to convince the Newport City Council to allow an excavation of the landfill. In 2021, he offered the council $70 million to fund a high-tech recovery mission, promising to take every precaution to minimize environmental damage.
His plan involved:
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Advanced scanning technology to pinpoint the hard drive’s location.
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A carefully managed excavation process to avoid environmental contamination.
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Robotic machinery to assist in sorting through the waste.
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A dedicated environmental team to ensure safety compliance.
Despite these efforts, the council has repeatedly refused his requests, citing several key concerns:
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Environmental risks – Excavating a landfill could disturb hazardous materials and contaminate the surrounding area.
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Regulatory restrictions – The city’s waste management permits do not allow the excavation of buried waste.
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Uncertainty of success – Even if the hard drive is found, there is no guarantee that it will still function after a decade underground.
These repeated refusals have frustrated Howells, but he remains undeterred. He has argued that the potential rewards far outweigh the risks and has even proposed donating a portion of the recovered Bitcoin to local causes. Still, the council has refused to budge.
A Last-Ditch Effort: Buying the Landfill
After exhausting all legal and negotiation efforts, Howells has now proposed a radical new strategy: purchasing the landfill outright. If successful, this move would allow him to dig for the hard drive without interference from the city council.
On February 14, 2025, Howells announced that he had secured funding to acquire the landfill, though he has not disclosed the identity of his investors. The feasibility of this plan, however, remains uncertain. Buying a landfill is no small task—it involves legal approvals, financial negotiations, and environmental compliance regulations.
If he succeeds, Howells will need to oversee a massive excavation project, carefully sifting through decades of waste in search of a single hard drive that may no longer be functional. The cost of such an operation could easily reach millions, and there is no guarantee that the device will be found intact.
Could the Hard Drive Even Be Saved?
Even if Howells gains access to the landfill and locates the hard drive, the biggest question remains: Will it still work?
There are several major challenges that could make data recovery impossible:
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Physical damage – The drive has been compressed under tons of waste for over a decade.
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Moisture exposure – Landfills create humid, corrosive environments that can destroy electronic components.
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Chemical contamination – The drive may have been exposed to toxic substances that erode its internal structure.
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Data corruption – Even if the drive is physically intact, the stored data may have deteriorated beyond repair.
Some data recovery specialists believe that cutting-edge forensic technology could still extract information from the damaged hard drive, but the process would be difficult and extremely expensive. Even a small error in the recovery process could render the Bitcoin permanently inaccessible.
Conclusion
James Howells' story is a mix of determination, frustration, and financial misfortune. His pursuit of his lost Bitcoin has turned into an obsession, drawing interest from cryptocurrency enthusiasts and treasure hunters alike. While some admire his resilience, others see it as a lost cause—a desperate attempt to recover a fortune that is likely gone forever.
If he succeeds, it will be one of the greatest financial recoveries of all time. If he fails, it will serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of digital wealth and the importance of safeguarding private keys.
The outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: James Howells is not giving up anytime soon.
FAQs
Why doesn’t the city allow Howells to dig for his hard drive?
The Newport City Council has denied all excavation requests due to environmental concerns, legal restrictions, and the high costs involved. They argue that landfill excavation is not permitted under their regulations.
What is Howells’ new plan to recover his Bitcoin?
After failing to get permission to dig, he is now exploring the option of buying the landfill outright, which would allow him to conduct the excavation himself.
How much Bitcoin did he lose, and what is it worth now?
James Howells lost 8,000 Bitcoin when he discarded his hard drive in 2013. At the time, it was worth $9 million—today, it is valued at nearly $800 million.
Could the hard drive still work after so many years?
The chances are very slim. The drive has likely suffered extreme damage from compression, moisture, and chemical exposure. Even if found, data recovery may be impossible.
Has anyone else lost large amounts of Bitcoin?
Yes, many early Bitcoin investors have lost access to their holdings due to forgotten passwords, misplaced private keys, or discarded storage devices. Some estimates suggest that 20% of all Bitcoin is permanently lost.