Techie Seeks to Buy Landfill in Bid to Recover $775 Million in Lost Bitcoin

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James Howells, a computer expert, is planning to purchase a landfill in South Wales in a bid to recover a hard drive containing the keys to his Bitcoin wallet, which he believes holds 8,000 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $775 million. This approach follows a 12-year fruitless search and a recent high court ruling that denied him the right to search the landfill. According to reports from The Guardian, Howells’ misfortune began in 2013 when his partner inadvertently discarded the hard drive.

As Newport City Council prepares to close the site, Howells contemplates acquiring the landfill to gain access for a potential search. “If Newport City Council would be willing, I would potentially be interested in purchasing the landfill site 'as is,'” he stated. His partner, Halfina Eddy-Evans, explained that the hard drive was thrown away as part of a cleanup, highlighting the accidental nature of the loss. Despite setbacks, Howells remains determined to retrieve his digital asset buried beneath 110,000 tons of waste.

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