A Englishman Expresses Interest in Purchasing Trash Area where a Hard Drive Loaded with 8,000 Bitcoins was Allegedly Discarded
In a twist of fortune, computer engineer James Howells, known for his 'Bitcoin treasure' hunt, has not yet succeeded in buying the landfill site in Wales where he believes his lost hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins is buried. The hard drive, reportedly thrown away by his ex-girlfriend in 2013, currently holds a staggering value of approximately $784 million.
The Newport City Council dismissed Howells' legal case in January 2024, citing cost and environmental concerns, and plans to close the landfill by 2025-26, replacing it with a solar farm. Despite this, Howells has shown interest in purchasing the landfill site itself as an alternative way to search for the hard drive, a move he has discussed with potential investment partners. However, as of July 2025, this potential purchase is still "very much on the table," but not yet completed or publicly confirmed as successful.
The council's decision to close the landfill, given their previous claims about its impact on the people of Newport, has taken Howells by surprise. The site, located at Newport's Docks Way, is planned to be closed in the 2025/26 financial year. The city council is not involved in the current attempt by Howell to buy the dump site.
Howells' legal battle for access to the site or compensation of GBP 495 million ($646 million) failed last year. The exact location of the dump site and the hard drive within the landfill is not specified in the report. The value of Bitcoin has significantly increased since it was discarded in 2013, trading between $50 and $246 at the time, implying a total value of about $400,000 to just under $2 million.
The city council's plan for the development of the site, a solar plant to power their new bin lorries, was not mentioned in the earlier bullet points. Despite the challenges, Howells remains hopeful in his quest to recover his lost Bitcoin fortune.
- James Howells, in pursuit of his Bitcoin treasure, is actively seeking investment partners to buy the landfill site in Wales, thus engaging in investing opportunities that intersect technology and finance.
- If successful, Howells' plan to purchase the Newport's Docks Way landfill, contaminated with news of lost 8,000 Bitcoins, could potentially revolutionize both technology and finance industries.
