James Howells, a computer science analyst, has been on a decades-long quest to retrieve his lost Bitcoin hard drive worth around $800 million after it was accidentally thrown away in 2013. The drive contains the only copy of his private key, allowing him to access a Bitcoin wallet.
Howells has repeatedly asked the Newport City Council for access to the landfill where he believes the hard drive is buried, but so far, they have rejected his requests. The city’s decision was made even more pressing when the landfill announced its plans to close down due to safety concerns and rising costs.
In an effort to salvage his plan, Howells has offered to purchase the landfill for a reported price of $1 million, with the intention of clearing out the trash and converting the site into a park or making it available for dumping again. This move would allow him to search for his lost hard drive without facing any obstacles from the council.
The deal also includes sharing 25% of the recovered Bitcoin with the Newport City Council as part of the agreement. Howells previously offered to fully fund the excavation process, but a judge had deemed his claim “unreasonable” and “without realistic prospect” of success in court.
Howells’ story highlights the risks and consequences of losing control over valuable digital assets. Despite the odds against him, he remains optimistic about finding his lost hard drive and its enormous worth.
The closure of the landfill presents Howells with a unique opportunity to search for his lost Bitcoin before it’s too late. With this move, he hopes to bring an end to his 12-year-long struggle and potentially reap the rewards of his lost digital asset.
Source: https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/man-yearslong-battle-retrieve-lost-bitcoin-hard-drive-worth-800-million-offers-buy-landfill