James Howells, an IT employee from Newport, Wales, has misplaced his decade-long authorized battle to recuperate a tough drive containing roughly 8,000 Bitcoins, at the moment valued at round £600 million.
In 2013, Howells unintentionally discarded the laborious drive, which ended up in a Newport landfill. Since then, he has sought permission from Newport Metropolis Council to excavate the location and retrieve the system. The council constantly denied his requests, citing environmental considerations and allow laws.
On January 9, 2025, Choose Keyser KC of the Cardiff Excessive Court docket dismissed Howells’s lawsuit, stating there have been no cheap grounds for the declare and no reasonable prospect of success at trial.
Regardless of providing a good portion of the recovered funds to the council and the local people, Howells’s efforts have been unsuccessful. The council maintains its stance in opposition to excavation, emphasizing potential environmental impacts and adherence to laws.
