James Howells, a computer engineer from Newport, would have been living an ultra-luxurious life today if he hadn’t made a mistake a decade ago. He is one of the earliest miners of Bitcoin. In 2013, he owned 8,000 Bitcoins, which were reportedly valued at $8 million at that time. Today, they are worth $742 million, but he can’t get even a penny due to an unfortunate error.
In mid-2013, Howells accidentally discarded a hard drive containing the private keys to his 8,000 Bitcoins, mistaking one device for another. Though he soon regretted his mistake, he had not anticipated the explosive rise in the value of Bitcoin. His frustration continued to rise with the value of the coin. He then became desperate to recover the lost fortune. Thus began the never-ending search for a hard drive buried deep into the Docksway landfill in Newport, Wales.
Being from an IT background, Howells proposed a high-tech plan to locate his missing item. It included the use of AI-powered drones and robotic systems to safely search the landfill without causing environmental damage. He even assembled a team of specialists and secured funding via venture capitalists for his search operation. His team included an AI specialist, experts in landfill excavation, and a data recovery advisor who helped recover the black box from the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.
The idea was to retrieve the hard drive following all safety protocols without causing any harm to the surrounding areas. He reportedly even proposed that if he is able to find his Bitcoin, he would distribute 30% of the proceedings among the council and the population of Newport.
However, Newport City Council denied his requests citing environmental concerns. They initially took a softer approach, telling the distressed IT worker that they would return the hard drive if it is ever found. However, as Howells’ desperation increased, they took a tougher stand, stating that searching for the hard drive would be against the law.
I’m James Howells, an IT specialist from Newport, Wales. In 2013, I accidentally threw away a hard drive while cleaning my desk—I had two identical ones and mixed them up. That drive contained Bitcoin now worth millions. I’ve offered the local council £50 million (a quarter of my… pic.twitter.com/57S3Yq29WG
— James Howells (@James_Howells09) February 19, 2025
Apart from refusal due to environmental concerns, Howells also faced legal complexities. As per UK waste management laws, anything that is disposed of in a landfill is technically owned by the landfill site. So, even if the hard drive was ever found, Howells would not be able to claim ownership. It led Howells to sue the council for £495 million (an amount closer to the current value of his lost Bitcoins).
However, the judge ruled that Howells has “no realistic prospect” of success. The judge pointed out that even if he is allowed to search the landfill, chances that the hard drive would work were slim as it must have been damaged due to a decade of exposure to moisture, pressure, and extreme temperatures. However, Howells believes that his hard drive is still there and functioning, and therefore, he won’t give up easily.
In his last and final proposal, he plans to buy the landfill so that he can keep searching for his lost item. Despite all odds working against him, he said, “I’m not giving up the fight.”
Here’s the plan: I’m buying the landfill.
That’s right. If the government won’t let me search for my hard drive with 7,500 Bitcoin ($225M+), I’ll take matters into my own hands. I’m negotiating to purchase the Newport landfill where I threw it away in 2013.
Once it’s mine, I’ll… pic.twitter.com/RNcX0IinMo
— James Howells (@James_Howells09) February 15, 2025
Though he may never find his lost wealth, Howells is excited for a new chapter of his life. As reported by BBC, an American production company called LEBUL has “acquired the exclusive rights to develop and produce his story.”
It is reportedly titled ‘The Buried Bitcoin: The Real-Life Treasure Hunt of James Howells’. Set to release in late 2025, the documentary will showcase his efforts to retrieve the hard drive, including his high-tech AI-backed plans, followed by futile legal battles. Howells said that he is “excited to finally be able to tell the story in his own words”.
