Publish: 12:05, 15 Feb, 2025

Man who lost $800 million in Bitcoin in landfill wants to buy dump

Online Desk
Man who lost $800 million in Bitcoin in landfill wants to buy dump
James Howells. File Photo Courtesy: Independent

Buried deep in a Welsh landfill, beneath layers of years-old trash, lies a hard drive that could unlock almost $800 million worth of bitcoin – or so James Howells believes, after accidentally discarding the drive in 2013, CNN’s Lianne Kolirin reported this on Friday.

Now, after years of legal battles with the local authority, Howells has a new plan: to buy the landfill.

“I am considering purchasing a landfill site. Funding secured,” he posted Thursday on X, echoing comments he made earlier this week, which were widely covered in the UK media. However, he did not disclose who is backing his funding.

CNN has reached out to Howells for comment.

Howells has made numerous attempts to retrieve the hard drive from the Docksway Landfill in Newport, a city 12 miles (19 kilometers) northeast of Cardiff. In 2021, he even offered Newport City Council more than $70 million for permission to search the site.

His latest move follows a January ruling by a British High Court judge, who dismissed his bid to force the council to allow him to search the landfill.

Howells accidentally threw away the critical hard drive in August 2013 while clearing out his house, mistakenly thinking it was a blank drive with no data. He discarded it in a trash bag that his then-partner took to the landfill. It wasn’t until the value of bitcoin soared that Howells realized he had thrown away the wrong drive.

Since then, the value of the bitcoin he claims is on that hard drive has skyrocketed from around $9 million to nearly $800 million, as cryptocurrency prices surged.

Each bitcoin transaction requires a private key, a secret piece of data that proves ownership. Howells' hard drive contains "a record" of this key, as outlined by Judge Andrew Keyser in his January ruling.

"The position is no different in principle from what it would be if the record of the private key had been written on a piece of paper and thrown into the landfill," Keyser wrote.

Without the private key, Howells cannot access the bitcoin he mined years ago, when the cryptocurrency was still a niche technology.

Newport City Council, which plans to close the landfill in the 2025/26 financial year, has not responded to CNN’s request for comment. In 2021, the council told CNN it is not authorized to excavate the site.

"The council has informed Mr. Howells several times that excavation is not possible under our licensing permit, and the excavation itself would have a significant environmental impact on the area," a spokeswoman said at the time. "The cost of digging up the landfill, storing and treating the waste could run into millions of pounds, with no guarantee of finding the hard drive or it being in working order."

Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan

More News
Ctg Port introduces online gate pass to speed up operations
Ctg Port introduces online gate pass to speed up operations
Trump announces 25% tariffs on autos, pharmaceuticals, and chips
Trump announces 25% tariffs on autos, pharmaceuticals, and chips
Bashir urges Japanese entrepreneurs to invest more in Bangladesh
Bashir urges Japanese entrepreneurs to invest more in Bangladesh
ADB capital utilization plan expands operations by 50pc over next decade
ADB capital utilization plan expands operations by 50pc over next decade
Stock market trading begins with a rise
Stock market trading begins with a rise
German voters demand change as Europe's biggest economy stalls
German voters demand change as Europe's biggest economy stalls
Industrial struggle deepens as capital machinery imports plunge
Industrial struggle deepens as capital machinery imports plunge
Gold prices hit historic high at Tk1.51 lakh per bhori
Gold prices hit historic high at Tk1.51 lakh per bhori
DCs asked to bring doctors, traders in upazilas under tax net
DCs asked to bring doctors, traders in upazilas under tax net
IMF defers $645m loan disbursement to June
IMF defers $645m loan disbursement to June
Fixing Germany's economy is a critical task for the country's next government
Fixing Germany's economy is a critical task for the country's next government
Japan’s economy grows more than expected
Japan’s economy grows more than expected
Latest News
NASA says probability of "city-killer" asteroid impact in 2032 to 3.1%
NASA says probability of "city-killer" asteroid impact in 2032 to 3.1%
1 minute ago | Tech
Attempts made to increase drug prices
Attempts made to increase drug prices
11 minutes ago | Special
Anuv Jain surprises fans with marriage announcement to Hridi Narang
Anuv Jain surprises fans with marriage announcement to Hridi Narang
14 minutes ago | Entertainment
Brazil prosecutor charges Bolsonaro over 2022 coup plot
Brazil prosecutor charges Bolsonaro over 2022 coup plot
24 minutes ago | International
Hamas, Israel agree return of six hostages, bodies held in Gaza
Hamas, Israel agree return of six hostages, bodies held in Gaza
30 minutes ago | International
Neymar among the players protesting artificial turf pitches in Brazil
Neymar among the players protesting artificial turf pitches in Brazil
41 minutes ago | Sports
Gitikobita Somogro: Shironamhin releases lyrics at Boi Mela
Gitikobita Somogro: Shironamhin releases lyrics at Boi Mela
42 minutes ago | Entertainment
West should repair oil facility damaged by Ukraine – Putin
West should repair oil facility damaged by Ukraine – Putin
49 minutes ago | International
Ctg Port introduces online gate pass to speed up operations
Ctg Port introduces online gate pass to speed up operations
55 minutes ago | Business
Trump doubles down on barring AP over 'Gulf of America' spat
Trump doubles down on barring AP over 'Gulf of America' spat
58 minutes ago | International
Youth made their mark on global stage through uprising: Mahfuj
Youth made their mark on global stage through uprising: Mahfuj
58 minutes ago | National
Evidence found of looting in Tk855cr a2i project
Evidence found of looting in Tk855cr a2i project
1 hour ago | National
China's 'Ne Zha 2' becomes highest-grossing animated film
China's 'Ne Zha 2' becomes highest-grossing animated film
1 hour ago | Entertainment
Trump bashes Zelensky, 'confident' on Ukraine deal
Trump bashes Zelensky, 'confident' on Ukraine deal
1 hour ago | International
Dhaka tops world's worst air quality list
Dhaka tops world's worst air quality list
1 hour ago | City
Former MP Sala Uddin arrested in Jashore
Former MP Sala Uddin arrested in Jashore
1 hour ago | National
Russia urges NATO to cancel 2008 Ukraine membership pledge, rejects peacekeeper idea
Russia urges NATO to cancel 2008 Ukraine membership pledge, rejects peacekeeper idea
1 hour ago | International
Trump announces 25% tariffs on autos, pharmaceuticals, and chips
Trump announces 25% tariffs on autos, pharmaceuticals, and chips
1 hour ago | Business
Turkiye ideal host for Russia-Ukraine talks, says Erdogan
Turkiye ideal host for Russia-Ukraine talks, says Erdogan
1 hour ago | International
Shafiqul Alam promoted to senior secretary
Shafiqul Alam promoted to senior secretary
2 hours ago | National
Tenures of five reform commissions extended until March 31
Tenures of five reform commissions extended until March 31
2 hours ago | National
Third operation against Israel will be carried out soon: Iran
Third operation against Israel will be carried out soon: Iran
2 hours ago | International
Release Azharul Islam: Jamaat Ameer
Release Azharul Islam: Jamaat Ameer
11 hours ago | National
National Athletics: Three more new records set on second day
National Athletics: Three more new records set on second day
12 hours ago | Sports
Govt prioritises bringing Hasina back for trial: Shafiqul Alam
Govt prioritises bringing Hasina back for trial: Shafiqul Alam
12 hours ago | National
BIAC delegation meets Chief Justice
BIAC delegation meets Chief Justice
12 hours ago | City
Hajj flights to begin Apr 29
Hajj flights to begin Apr 29
13 hours ago | National
People smell something fishy in attempt to delay national elections: Mirza Fakhrul
People smell something fishy in attempt to delay national elections: Mirza Fakhrul
13 hours ago | National
China is ready to implement Teesta project: Ambassador
China is ready to implement Teesta project: Ambassador
13 hours ago | National
Bashir urges Japanese entrepreneurs to invest more in Bangladesh
Bashir urges Japanese entrepreneurs to invest more in Bangladesh
13 hours ago | Business
Most Read
Musk’s xAI launches Grok 3 AI model
Musk’s xAI launches Grok 3 AI model
22 hours ago | Tech
Dancing 20 minutes daily enough to meet fitness goals: Study
Dancing 20 minutes daily enough to meet fitness goals: Study
21 hours ago | Lifestyle
Mehazabien and Adnan Al Rajeev's wedding finally confirmed!
Mehazabien and Adnan Al Rajeev's wedding finally confirmed!
23 hours ago | Entertainment
New default loan policy to jeopardise businesses
New default loan policy to jeopardise businesses
23 hours ago | Special
Top AI models: Features and how to use them
Top AI models: Features and how to use them
22 hours ago | Tech
New passport issued based on national ID card
New passport issued based on national ID card
22 hours ago | National
Dietician shares 3 simple tests to determine if you’re dehydrated
Dietician shares 3 simple tests to determine if you’re dehydrated
21 hours ago | Lifestyle
How much salt is too much salt?
How much salt is too much salt?
22 hours ago | Lifestyle
Assistant teacher recruitment result announced following legal procedures
Assistant teacher recruitment result announced following legal procedures
21 hours ago | National
Homemade electrolyte drink to keep immunity up
Homemade electrolyte drink to keep immunity up
20 hours ago | Lifestyle
113 Bangladeshis detained in Malaysia
113 Bangladeshis detained in Malaysia
21 hours ago | National
Tesla starts hiring in India following Musk-Modi meeting
Tesla starts hiring in India following Musk-Modi meeting
22 hours ago | International
Shafiqul Alam promoted to senior secretary
Shafiqul Alam promoted to senior secretary
2 hours ago | National
Tenures of five reform commissions extended until March 31
Tenures of five reform commissions extended until March 31
2 hours ago | National
ICT orders submission of investigation report against Sheikh Hasina by April 20
ICT orders submission of investigation report against Sheikh Hasina by April 20
21 hours ago | National
Court orders to seize lands, freeze bank accounts of Palak's wife
Court orders to seize lands, freeze bank accounts of Palak's wife
15 hours ago | National
DCs propose universal military training for youths
DCs propose universal military training for youths
21 hours ago | National
Govt prioritises bringing Hasina back for trial: Shafiqul Alam
Govt prioritises bringing Hasina back for trial: Shafiqul Alam
12 hours ago | National
Women's DPL kicks off Wednesday
Women's DPL kicks off Wednesday
17 hours ago | Sports
US launches multimillion-dollar ad campaign saying, 'criminal migrants’ not welcome
US launches multimillion-dollar ad campaign saying, 'criminal migrants’ not welcome
22 hours ago | International
Investigation of several accused including Hasina almost done: Chief Prosecutor
Investigation of several accused including Hasina almost done: Chief Prosecutor
18 hours ago | National
Exploring hydropower potentials: Bhutan for joint venture investment
Exploring hydropower potentials: Bhutan for joint venture investment
17 hours ago | National
1,400 arms, 2.5 lakhs ammunition still not recovered
1,400 arms, 2.5 lakhs ammunition still not recovered
15 hours ago | National
Travel ban imposed on ex-finance minister, his wife and daughters
Travel ban imposed on ex-finance minister, his wife and daughters
17 hours ago | National
Florida man shot Israeli visitors thinking they were Palestinians: US police
Florida man shot Israeli visitors thinking they were Palestinians: US police
23 hours ago | International
Weather Forecast: Rain in parts of Rangpur & Sylhet, dry elsewhere
Weather Forecast: Rain in parts of Rangpur & Sylhet, dry elsewhere
22 hours ago | National
EU wants Bangladesh successfully transition from ‘autocracy to democracy’
EU wants Bangladesh successfully transition from ‘autocracy to democracy’
19 hours ago | National
Local govt elections should be held before nat'l polls: Asif Mahmud
Local govt elections should be held before nat'l polls: Asif Mahmud
18 hours ago | National
US and Russia hold talks in Saudi, no seat for Ukraine
US and Russia hold talks in Saudi, no seat for Ukraine
17 hours ago | International
Bashir urges Japanese entrepreneurs to invest more in Bangladesh
Bashir urges Japanese entrepreneurs to invest more in Bangladesh
13 hours ago | Business