UK Court Rejects Man's Attempt to Recover Lost £600 Million Bitcoin

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In a recent ruling, a UK court has denied James Howells' bid to recover a Bitcoin fortune worth approximately £600 million, which he lost in a landfill a decade ago. The Circuit Commercial Judge for Wales, Judge Keyser, dismissed Howells' lawsuit, stating that he had "no reasonable grounds" for the claim and that there was "no realistic prospect" of success if the case went to trial.

Howells lost access to his cryptocurrency after mistakenly discarding a hard drive containing it in Newport, Wales, in 2013. Despite offering to fully finance the excavation of the landfill where he believes the hard drive is buried and to share 25% of any recovered Bitcoin with Newport City Council, his proposals were rejected.

The court's decision has left Howells feeling disheartened, expressing that the outcome felt like a "kick in the teeth." He stated his disappointment at being unable to present his case fully in court, arguing that previous communications with the city council had not facilitated a proper dialogue regarding his claim. He laments the ruling as a setback that has taken away his hopes of recovering what he considers rightfully his.

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