Man Seeks to Buy Landfill for Lost Bitcoin Drive

In 2013, James Howells’ partner discarded a hard drive with 8,000 Bitcoins, now worth ~$800M, in a Newport, Wales landfill.

The 2.5-inch drive, lost during an office clear-out, holds a private key for the cryptocurrency.

Howells, a 39-year-old IT engineer, sued Newport City Council for $647M after they denied excavation, citing environmental concerns.

He now plans to buy the 500,000-square-meter Docksway landfill, estimated at 10 million cubic meters, to search for the drive.

A 2025 documentary will cover his efforts.