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š Buried Millions: The Man Who Spent a Decade Chasing a Digital Ghost
In 2013, James Howells ā an IT engineer from Newport, Wales ā made one fateful mistake.
He tossed an old hard drive into the trashā¦
That hard drive held 8,000 Bitcoin.
Today, thatās worth over $750 million.
With a single careless throw, he lost a fortune ā and it never stopped haunting him.
š§ 10 Years of Obsession, Hope, and Heartbreak
For over a decade, James didnāt just regret the loss ā
he relentlessly chased it.
He studied landfill maps.
He tracked waste management routes.
He spent years building an $11 million recovery plan using:
AI-powered drones
Robotic arms
Environmental crews
He promised to share 25% of the treasure with Newport.
He begged the city council for access.
But every request ended the same:
āPermission denied.ā
Still, he kept going.
Rain, mud, rejection ā nothing could stop the man chasing a digital dream buried in garbage.
āļø 2025: The Final Blow
This year, his last hope vanished.
The UK High Court officially ended the fight:
Even if James finds the drive ā he has no legal right to retrieve it.
Ten years of passion, planning, and painā¦
Gone.
āItās finished. Thereās nothing more I can do.ā
ā James Howells, 2025
š§ A Heartbreaking Reminder
This is more than just a crypto story.
Itās a warning etched in heartbreak:
Bitcoin doesnāt forgive.
Lose your private key, and itās gone forever.
One small mistake can cost you a lifetime of fortune.
James didnāt just lose money.
He lost time. Hope. Sleep.
And a piece of himself.
Guard your crypto. Guard it like your life.
Because some mistakes can never be dug back up.
#CryptoTragedy #JamesHowells #BuriedBitcoin #DigitalResponsibility $BTC
In 2013, James Howells ā an IT engineer from Newport, Wales ā made one fateful mistake.
He tossed an old hard drive into the trashā¦
That hard drive held 8,000 Bitcoin.
Today, thatās worth over $750 million.
With a single careless throw, he lost a fortune ā and it never stopped haunting him.
š§ 10 Years of Obsession, Hope, and Heartbreak
For over a decade, James didnāt just regret the loss ā
he relentlessly chased it.
He studied landfill maps.
He tracked waste management routes.
He spent years building an $11 million recovery plan using:
AI-powered drones
Robotic arms
Environmental crews
He promised to share 25% of the treasure with Newport.
He begged the city council for access.
But every request ended the same:
āPermission denied.ā
Still, he kept going.
Rain, mud, rejection ā nothing could stop the man chasing a digital dream buried in garbage.
āļø 2025: The Final Blow
This year, his last hope vanished.
The UK High Court officially ended the fight:
Even if James finds the drive ā he has no legal right to retrieve it.
Ten years of passion, planning, and painā¦
Gone.
āItās finished. Thereās nothing more I can do.ā
ā James Howells, 2025
š§ A Heartbreaking Reminder
This is more than just a crypto story.
Itās a warning etched in heartbreak:
Bitcoin doesnāt forgive.
Lose your private key, and itās gone forever.
One small mistake can cost you a lifetime of fortune.
James didnāt just lose money.
He lost time. Hope. Sleep.
And a piece of himself.
Guard your crypto. Guard it like your life.
Because some mistakes can never be dug back up.
#CryptoTragedy #JamesHowells #BuriedBitcoin #DigitalResponsibility $BTC
šØšØ After 12 years, #JamesHowells , the man who accidentally threw away a hard drive with 8000 #bitcoin in 2013 (now worth $950M), has finally ended his search
#News #crypto $BTC
#News #crypto $BTC
UK man who lost 8,000 $BTC in landfill says he hasnāt given up, pivots to tokenizing legal claim
James Howells, the man who has been hunting down his lost hard drive containing 8,000 $BTC , addressed circulating reports claiming that he has given up on his 12-year search.
In 2013, a British IT engineer accidentally threw out his hard drive containing Bitcoin he had mined a few years earlier, which ended up in a landfill site in Newport.
As bitcoin's value soared exponentially over the following years, Howells sought permission to excavate the landfill, only to have his request rejected by the regional council. Howells explored other options, such as using AI to help locate the hard drive. With today's bitcoin price of $114,231, Howell's lost hard drive is worth around $915 million.
Earlier this week, several social media posts emerged saying that Howells has officially ended his quest to recover the lost bitcoin.
"No, I have not 'given up," Howells told The Block via direct message on social media platform X. "The story going around is partially true, but not in the way itās being framed."
Howells explained that on July 1, he made a formal offer of between $33 million and $40 million in value to acquire and excavate the Newport landfill site, sent to the Newport City Council's leader, legal team and a member of its parliament.
To raise funds for the acquisition, Howells had announced plans to launch an Ordinals-based token in October, representing 21% of the lost wallet's value.
Despite the sizable amount of the offer, Newport representatives have not replied or acknowledged the offer, according to Howells.
"So hereās where we stand ā If they wonāt sell, thereās no need for a token sale to buy the landfill," Howells said. "I am no longer pursuing the purchase of the landfill, I am no longer pursuing excavation or remediation, I am no longer pursuing dialogue with the council or its representatives."
#BTCRecovery #JamesHowells #btc #theblock #cryptominister
James Howells, the man who has been hunting down his lost hard drive containing 8,000 $BTC , addressed circulating reports claiming that he has given up on his 12-year search.
In 2013, a British IT engineer accidentally threw out his hard drive containing Bitcoin he had mined a few years earlier, which ended up in a landfill site in Newport.
As bitcoin's value soared exponentially over the following years, Howells sought permission to excavate the landfill, only to have his request rejected by the regional council. Howells explored other options, such as using AI to help locate the hard drive. With today's bitcoin price of $114,231, Howell's lost hard drive is worth around $915 million.
Earlier this week, several social media posts emerged saying that Howells has officially ended his quest to recover the lost bitcoin.
"No, I have not 'given up," Howells told The Block via direct message on social media platform X. "The story going around is partially true, but not in the way itās being framed."
Howells explained that on July 1, he made a formal offer of between $33 million and $40 million in value to acquire and excavate the Newport landfill site, sent to the Newport City Council's leader, legal team and a member of its parliament.
To raise funds for the acquisition, Howells had announced plans to launch an Ordinals-based token in October, representing 21% of the lost wallet's value.
Despite the sizable amount of the offer, Newport representatives have not replied or acknowledged the offer, according to Howells.
"So hereās where we stand ā If they wonāt sell, thereās no need for a token sale to buy the landfill," Howells said. "I am no longer pursuing the purchase of the landfill, I am no longer pursuing excavation or remediation, I am no longer pursuing dialogue with the council or its representatives."
#BTCRecovery #JamesHowells #btc #theblock #cryptominister
UK man who lost 8,000 bitcoin in landfill says he hasnāt given up, pivots to tokenizing legal claim
James Howells, the man who has been hunting down his lost hard drive containing 8,000 BTC, addressed circulating reports claiming that he has given up on his 12-year search.
In 2013, a British IT engineer accidentally threw out his hard drive containing Bitcoin he had mined a few years earlier, which ended up in a landfill site in Newport.
As bitcoin's value soared exponentially over the following years, Howells sought permission to excavate the landfill, only to have his request rejected by the regional council. Howells explored other options, such as using AI to help locate the hard drive. With today's bitcoin price of $114,231, Howell's lost hard drive is worth around $915 million.
Earlier this week, several social media posts emerged saying that Howells has officially ended his quest to recover the lost bitcoin.
"No, I have not 'given up," Howells told The Block via direct message on social media platform X. "The story going around is partially true, but not in the way itās being framed."
Howells explained that on July 1, he made a formal offer of between $33 million and $40 million in value to acquire and excavate the Newport landfill site, sent to the Newport City Council's leader, legal team and a member of its parliament.
To raise funds for the acquisition, Howells had announced plans to launch an Ordinals-based token in October, representing 21% of the lost wallet's value.
Despite the sizable amount of the offer, Newport representatives have not replied or acknowledged the offer, according to Howells.
"So hereās where we stand ā If they wonāt sell, thereās no need for a token sale to buy the landfill," Howells said. "I am no longer pursuing the purchase of the landfill, I am no longer pursuing excavation or remediation, I am no longer pursuing dialogue with the council or its representatives."
#BTCRecovery #JamesHowells #btc #theblock #cryptominister
James Howells, the man who has been hunting down his lost hard drive containing 8,000 BTC, addressed circulating reports claiming that he has given up on his 12-year search.
In 2013, a British IT engineer accidentally threw out his hard drive containing Bitcoin he had mined a few years earlier, which ended up in a landfill site in Newport.
As bitcoin's value soared exponentially over the following years, Howells sought permission to excavate the landfill, only to have his request rejected by the regional council. Howells explored other options, such as using AI to help locate the hard drive. With today's bitcoin price of $114,231, Howell's lost hard drive is worth around $915 million.
Earlier this week, several social media posts emerged saying that Howells has officially ended his quest to recover the lost bitcoin.
"No, I have not 'given up," Howells told The Block via direct message on social media platform X. "The story going around is partially true, but not in the way itās being framed."
Howells explained that on July 1, he made a formal offer of between $33 million and $40 million in value to acquire and excavate the Newport landfill site, sent to the Newport City Council's leader, legal team and a member of its parliament.
To raise funds for the acquisition, Howells had announced plans to launch an Ordinals-based token in October, representing 21% of the lost wallet's value.
Despite the sizable amount of the offer, Newport representatives have not replied or acknowledged the offer, according to Howells.
"So hereās where we stand ā If they wonāt sell, thereās no need for a token sale to buy the landfill," Howells said. "I am no longer pursuing the purchase of the landfill, I am no longer pursuing excavation or remediation, I am no longer pursuing dialogue with the council or its representatives."
#BTCRecovery #JamesHowells #btc #theblock #cryptominister
š§šµš² $š°š¬š¬š š§š„šš¦š š¦š§š¢š„š¬
šļøšøA true crypto tragedyā¦
Let me tell you about a man named šš®šŗš²š šš¼šš²š¹š¹šāa guy who accidentally threw away a hard drive with š“,š¬š¬š¬ šš§š on it.
Yep. You read that right.
š“,š¬š¬š¬. šš¶šš°š¼š¶š». šš¼š»š².
Today? Thatās worth $š³š¬š¬+ š ššššš¢š”.
FOUR. HUNDRED. MILLION. DOLLARS.
šš» š šš®š»š±š³š¶š¹š¹.
šš°š®š¦šøš©š¦š³š¦ šŖšÆ šš¦šøš±š°š³šµ, šš¢šš¦š“.
Imagine mining Bitcoin back in 2009 like, ā LOL this internet money is funny ā..ā¦and then throwing away the equivalent of a small country's GDP with your old USB cables.
š£š¹š¼š ššš¶šš:
He knows exactly where the drive was tossed. Heās been begging the city to let him dig up the dump. Heās offered to give them a š°šš š¼š³ ššµš² š³š¼šæššš»š². Heās teamed up with šš š²š š½š²šæšš, š²š»šš¶šæš¼š»šŗš²š»šš®š¹ šš°š¶š²š»šš¶ššš, š²šš²š» šæš¼šÆš¼šš. All to search through šŗš¼šš»šš®š¶š»š š¼š³ ššæš®ššµ for one stupid little hard drive.
But the city said:
āš”š®šµ, šš¼šš»š±š šŗš²ššš.ā
___________________
Bro. Messy? It's generational wealth sitting under banana peels.
A reminder that early crypto stories werenāt just about gainsāthey were also about šš»šæš²š®š¹š¶šš²š± š³š¼šæššš»š²š š¹š¼šš šš¼ šš¶šŗš², šš²š°šµ... š®š»š± ššæš®ššµ.
So next time you misplace a USB stick? Just remember: Youāre probably not losing half a billion bucks. (Probably.)
š š¼šæš®š¹ š¼š³ ššµš² ššš¼šæš:
š§ Back up your wallets.
šļø Never underestimate whatās in the trash.
#crypto #loss #JamesHowells
šļøšøA true crypto tragedyā¦
Let me tell you about a man named šš®šŗš²š šš¼šš²š¹š¹šāa guy who accidentally threw away a hard drive with š“,š¬š¬š¬ šš§š on it.
Yep. You read that right.
š“,š¬š¬š¬. šš¶šš°š¼š¶š». šš¼š»š².
Today? Thatās worth $š³š¬š¬+ š ššššš¢š”.
FOUR. HUNDRED. MILLION. DOLLARS.
šš» š šš®š»š±š³š¶š¹š¹.
šš°š®š¦šøš©š¦š³š¦ šŖšÆ šš¦šøš±š°š³šµ, šš¢šš¦š“.
Imagine mining Bitcoin back in 2009 like, ā LOL this internet money is funny ā..ā¦and then throwing away the equivalent of a small country's GDP with your old USB cables.
š£š¹š¼š ššš¶šš:
He knows exactly where the drive was tossed. Heās been begging the city to let him dig up the dump. Heās offered to give them a š°šš š¼š³ ššµš² š³š¼šæššš»š². Heās teamed up with šš š²š š½š²šæšš, š²š»šš¶šæš¼š»šŗš²š»šš®š¹ šš°š¶š²š»šš¶ššš, š²šš²š» šæš¼šÆš¼šš. All to search through šŗš¼šš»šš®š¶š»š š¼š³ ššæš®ššµ for one stupid little hard drive.
But the city said:
āš”š®šµ, šš¼šš»š±š šŗš²ššš.ā
___________________
Bro. Messy? It's generational wealth sitting under banana peels.
A reminder that early crypto stories werenāt just about gainsāthey were also about šš»šæš²š®š¹š¶šš²š± š³š¼šæššš»š²š š¹š¼šš šš¼ šš¶šŗš², šš²š°šµ... š®š»š± ššæš®ššµ.
So next time you misplace a USB stick? Just remember: Youāre probably not losing half a billion bucks. (Probably.)
š š¼šæš®š¹ š¼š³ ššµš² ššš¼šæš:
š§ Back up your wallets.
šļø Never underestimate whatās in the trash.
#crypto #loss #JamesHowells
The Programmer Who Lost 8,000 BTC: The Costliest Mistake in Crypto History
Back in 2009, James Howells, a technical engineer from Newport, UK, was an early explorer of Bitcoinālong before it made headlines. Using an old laptop, he mined around 8,000 BTC when Bitcoin was still a niche concept, virtually worthless and known only to a handful of tech enthusiasts.
The Critical Mistake: Tossing Away a Fortune
After mining, Howells saved the private keys to his digital wallet on an external hard drive. But in 2013, during a routine office cleanup, he mistakenly threw the drive out, believing it was junk. By the time he realized the blunder, it had already been buried in a local landfill.
What seemed like a small oversight quickly became a financial tragedy. As Bitcoinās price skyrocketed, that discarded hard driveās value soared ā at its peak, worth over $480 million.
The Recovery Mission: Millions Buried in the Trash
Since then, Howells has spent years trying to get permission from the Newport City Council to dig up the landfill. Heās proposed high-tech, multi-million dollar excavation projects, collaborated with AI and data recovery experts, and secured private backing ā but local authorities continue to block his efforts.
The Takeaway
James Howellsā story is a powerful reminder for every crypto investor:
Lose your keys, lose your coins.
In the world of digital assets, security isnāt just important ā itās everything.
#CryptoHistory #bitcoin #JamesHowells #LostBTC #Write2Earn
The Critical Mistake: Tossing Away a Fortune
After mining, Howells saved the private keys to his digital wallet on an external hard drive. But in 2013, during a routine office cleanup, he mistakenly threw the drive out, believing it was junk. By the time he realized the blunder, it had already been buried in a local landfill.
What seemed like a small oversight quickly became a financial tragedy. As Bitcoinās price skyrocketed, that discarded hard driveās value soared ā at its peak, worth over $480 million.
The Recovery Mission: Millions Buried in the Trash
Since then, Howells has spent years trying to get permission from the Newport City Council to dig up the landfill. Heās proposed high-tech, multi-million dollar excavation projects, collaborated with AI and data recovery experts, and secured private backing ā but local authorities continue to block his efforts.
The Takeaway
James Howellsā story is a powerful reminder for every crypto investor:
Lose your keys, lose your coins.
In the world of digital assets, security isnāt just important ā itās everything.
#CryptoHistory #bitcoin #JamesHowells #LostBTC #Write2Earn
šØBREAKING:šØ
JAMES HOWELLS HAS FINALLY GIVEN UP HIS SEARCH FOR THE HARD DRIVE HE ACCIDENTALLY THREW AWAY IN 2013 THAT HELD 8,000 BITCOIN, NOW WORTH $950 MILLION
$BTC #JamesHowells #BinanceHODLerTOWNS #FOMCMeeting
$BTC
$ETH
JAMES HOWELLS HAS FINALLY GIVEN UP HIS SEARCH FOR THE HARD DRIVE HE ACCIDENTALLY THREW AWAY IN 2013 THAT HELD 8,000 BITCOIN, NOW WORTH $950 MILLION
$BTC #JamesHowells #BinanceHODLerTOWNS #FOMCMeeting
$BTC
$ETH
šø After 12 years, James Howells is giving up the hunt for his lost hard drive with 8,000 BTC (~$950M š±).
He accidentally tossed it in 2013 and begged Newport city to help search the landfill. They refused. Now the crypto treasure is officially gone forever. šš¾
#Bitcoin #Crypto #LostTreasure #JamesHowells $BTC
He accidentally tossed it in 2013 and begged Newport city to help search the landfill. They refused. Now the crypto treasure is officially gone forever. šš¾
#Bitcoin #Crypto #LostTreasure #JamesHowells $BTC
šø UK Man Who Lost 8,000 BTC in Landfill Says: āI Havenāt Given Upā
Remember James Howells ā the British man who accidentally threw away a hard drive with 8,000 BTC back in 2013?
That drive is now worth around $915 million at todayās Bitcoin price ($114,231), and it's buried somewhere in a landfill in Newport, Wales.
š Lost, But Not Forgotten
Howells mined the BTC years ago but mistakenly tossed the drive during a home clean-up.
Since then, heās spent over a decade trying to get permission to dig it up ā but local officials keep saying no.
š¤ From AI to Tokenization
Heās tried AI tech to help locate it.
He even offered $33Mā$40M to buy and dig the site.
In October, he planned to launch a token (based on Bitcoin Ordinals) tied to 21% of the lost walletās value to raise funds.
Butā¦
š The Newport Council didnāt respond.
š« Not Giving Up, Just Switching Tactics
Despite rumors online, Howells says he hasnāt given up.
š āIām just no longer trying to buy or dig the landfill,ā he said.
Heās stopped negotiations with the council ā but still has other plans in the works.
š® Whatās Next?
James may be done with the landfill, but heās not done with the mission to recover the value of his BTC.
Weāll be watching to see what he does with his token idea and whether his Bitcoin ever makes a comeback.
š¬ Would you buy a token linked to this lost BTC story?
#BTCRecovery #JamesHowells #BitcoinLost #CryptoHistory #BTC
$BTC
That drive is now worth around $915 million at todayās Bitcoin price ($114,231), and it's buried somewhere in a landfill in Newport, Wales.
š Lost, But Not Forgotten
Howells mined the BTC years ago but mistakenly tossed the drive during a home clean-up.
Since then, heās spent over a decade trying to get permission to dig it up ā but local officials keep saying no.
š¤ From AI to Tokenization
Heās tried AI tech to help locate it.
He even offered $33Mā$40M to buy and dig the site.
In October, he planned to launch a token (based on Bitcoin Ordinals) tied to 21% of the lost walletās value to raise funds.
Butā¦
š The Newport Council didnāt respond.
š« Not Giving Up, Just Switching Tactics
Despite rumors online, Howells says he hasnāt given up.
š āIām just no longer trying to buy or dig the landfill,ā he said.
Heās stopped negotiations with the council ā but still has other plans in the works.
š® Whatās Next?
James may be done with the landfill, but heās not done with the mission to recover the value of his BTC.
Weāll be watching to see what he does with his token idea and whether his Bitcoin ever makes a comeback.
š¬ Would you buy a token linked to this lost BTC story?
#BTCRecovery #JamesHowells #BitcoinLost #CryptoHistory #BTC
$BTC
After 12 Years, James Howells Finally Gives Up on Recovering His $500 Million$BTC Bitcoin Hard Drive
After 12 long years of relentless efforts, James Howells ā the man who accidentally threw away a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins ā has finally given up on his mission to retrieve it.
In 2013, the Welsh IT engineer mistakenly discarded the hard drive during a routine house clean-up in Newport, Wales. At the time, Bitcoin was worth only a few hundred dollars. Today, those lost coins are valued at over $500 million, making it one of the most infamous personal losses in crypto history.
Howells spent more than a decade trying to persuade the Newport City Council to allow an organized excavation of the landfill where the hard drive is believed to be buried. His proposals included multimillion-dollar, high-tech recovery plans involving AI, robotic dogs, and expert dig teams ā all self-funded and environmentally conscious.
Despite gaining global media attention and backing from private investors, the council consistently denied his requests, citing environmental, legal, and health concerns.
Now, after 12 years of rejection, financial stress, and emotional exhaustion, Howells has officially ended his search. In his own words, "Iāve done everything I can. Itās time to let go."
James Howellsā story stands as a legendary example of cryptoās unforgiving nature. His experience is a stark reminder that, in the world of decentralized finance, losing access to your private keys means losing everything ā permanently.#JamesHowells
After 12 long years of relentless efforts, James Howells ā the man who accidentally threw away a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins ā has finally given up on his mission to retrieve it.
In 2013, the Welsh IT engineer mistakenly discarded the hard drive during a routine house clean-up in Newport, Wales. At the time, Bitcoin was worth only a few hundred dollars. Today, those lost coins are valued at over $500 million, making it one of the most infamous personal losses in crypto history.
Howells spent more than a decade trying to persuade the Newport City Council to allow an organized excavation of the landfill where the hard drive is believed to be buried. His proposals included multimillion-dollar, high-tech recovery plans involving AI, robotic dogs, and expert dig teams ā all self-funded and environmentally conscious.
Despite gaining global media attention and backing from private investors, the council consistently denied his requests, citing environmental, legal, and health concerns.
Now, after 12 years of rejection, financial stress, and emotional exhaustion, Howells has officially ended his search. In his own words, "Iāve done everything I can. Itās time to let go."
James Howellsā story stands as a legendary example of cryptoās unforgiving nature. His experience is a stark reminder that, in the world of decentralized finance, losing access to your private keys means losing everything ā permanently.#JamesHowells
See original
The Man Who Lost 8,000 BTC in a Landfill Now Wants to Buy the Entire Land to Retrieve His Assets
#JamesHowells , a British computer engineer, lost 8,000 Bitcoins in a landfill in Newport, Wales, 11 years ago. This amount of BTC is currently worth about 780 million USD, and he has spent over a decade trying to find a way to dig up the buried hard drive.
Failed "Gold Digging" Plan
Howells has repeatedly sought permission from the Newport city authorities to search for the hard drive, but has been denied each time. The reason given is that excavating the landfill could pose environmental risks and disrupt city operations.
Failed "Gold Digging" Plan
Howells has repeatedly sought permission from the Newport city authorities to search for the hard drive, but has been denied each time. The reason given is that excavating the landfill could pose environmental risks and disrupt city operations.
From Trash to Treasure: The $450 Million Bitcoin Blunder šļøš»šø
James Howells, an IT guy from Newport, Wales, made a mistake in 2013 that turned him into the star of one of the most expensive trash stories ever. He threw away an old hard drive. The problem? It contained 7,500 Bitcoins! Back then, Bitcoin was worth just a few dollars, so no big deal, right? Fast forward to 2021, and that trash drive was worth $450 million! šøš± Imagine tossing out a pizza and realizing years later it was actually a gold mine. š
The Great Landfill Hunt šµļøāāļøāļø
When Howells realized his mistake, he sprang into action. He asked the local council for permission to dig up the Newport landfill. But the authorities said, āNope, you canāt dig here! Itās bad for the environment!ā šš« Howells probably thought, ā$450 million for a little digging? Why is this such a big deal?ā š¤·āāļøšļø
He even proposed using AI and robotic digging equipment to minimize environmental impact. But the landfill was massive, and finding the drive was like searching for a needle in a haystack. š§š Still, Howells hasnāt given up hope. Maybe one day, technology will save the day! š¤āØ
The Most Expensive Trash Story in the Digital Age š¾š
This story is a perfect example of how digital assets can have real-world value. Howellsā ordeal teaches us a valuable lesson: Secure your digital assets, or you might end up digging through a landfill for your lost fortune! š”ļøš»
#Bitcoin #JamesHowells ļæ¼
The Great Landfill Hunt šµļøāāļøāļø
When Howells realized his mistake, he sprang into action. He asked the local council for permission to dig up the Newport landfill. But the authorities said, āNope, you canāt dig here! Itās bad for the environment!ā šš« Howells probably thought, ā$450 million for a little digging? Why is this such a big deal?ā š¤·āāļøšļø
He even proposed using AI and robotic digging equipment to minimize environmental impact. But the landfill was massive, and finding the drive was like searching for a needle in a haystack. š§š Still, Howells hasnāt given up hope. Maybe one day, technology will save the day! š¤āØ
The Most Expensive Trash Story in the Digital Age š¾š
This story is a perfect example of how digital assets can have real-world value. Howellsā ordeal teaches us a valuable lesson: Secure your digital assets, or you might end up digging through a landfill for your lost fortune! š”ļøš»
#Bitcoin #JamesHowells ļæ¼
See original
The Digital Tragedy of James Howells: When the Future Was Buried in a Landfill
Twelve years of obsession, millions lost, and a brutal lesson about the fragility of digital wealth. The story of James Howells, the Welsh engineer who unknowingly threw away a hard drive with 8,000 bitcoins (now valued at 742 million euros) in 2013, has come to an end. His battle against bureaucracy, technology, and time culminates in a bitter defeat, symbolizing the inherent risks of cryptocurrencies: where a trivial mistake can bury a fortune.
Howells, a visionary pioneer who accumulated $BTC when it was worth cents, made a catastrophic slip by discarding the device during a routine cleaning. Since then, his life has become a quixotic odyssey: proposals for excavation with drones and AI, profit-sharing offers with the Newport city council, and legal battles. But authorities blocked his efforts, citing environmental risks and the practical impossibility of sifting through 15,000 tons of waste.
Howells, a visionary pioneer who accumulated $BTC when it was worth cents, made a catastrophic slip by discarding the device during a routine cleaning. Since then, his life has become a quixotic odyssey: proposals for excavation with drones and AI, profit-sharing offers with the Newport city council, and legal battles. But authorities blocked his efforts, citing environmental risks and the practical impossibility of sifting through 15,000 tons of waste.
James Howells Ends Hunt for Lost $742M Bitcoin ā Whatās Next?
After 12 years, James Howells has officially given up his search for the hard drive with 8,000 lost Bitcoinsāworth over $740 million today! Despite numerous attempts and big hopes, local authorities blocked recovery efforts, calling it a no-go.
This story is a powerful reminder: always back up your crypto safely! Losing access means losing everything, no matter the value.
Whatās your take? Should there be more support for crypto recovery missions, or is this just a tough lesson for all of us? Drop your thoughts below!
#LostBitcoin #JamesHowells #CryptoLessons #BinanceSquare #TrumpVsMusk
$BTC $ETH $SOL
After 12 years, James Howells has officially given up his search for the hard drive with 8,000 lost Bitcoinsāworth over $740 million today! Despite numerous attempts and big hopes, local authorities blocked recovery efforts, calling it a no-go.
This story is a powerful reminder: always back up your crypto safely! Losing access means losing everything, no matter the value.
Whatās your take? Should there be more support for crypto recovery missions, or is this just a tough lesson for all of us? Drop your thoughts below!
#LostBitcoin #JamesHowells #CryptoLessons #BinanceSquare #TrumpVsMusk
$BTC $ETH $SOL
š° After 12 Years, the Man Who Lost $742M in Bitcoin Gets a Surprising Ending
The story of James Howells isn't over just yetā¦
Back in 2013, James Howells, an IT specialist from Newport, UK, accidentally threw away an old hard drive. It wasnāt just any driveāit contained the private keys to a wallet holding 8,000 Bitcoins, worth roughly $8 million at the time.
Fast forward to 2025, and those same coins would now be worth a jaw-dropping $742 million. Realizing the magnitude of the loss, Howells launched a relentless mission to recover the hard drive from a local landfillācomplete with drones, AI scanning, and robotic diggers.
But his plans hit a wall. š«
Local authorities rejected the operation, citing environmental risksāincluding potential toxic gas releases and soil contamination. British law also complicated things: anything discarded in a landfill becomes property of the site. Courts ultimately ruled against excavation, arguing the drive likely deteriorated beyond recovery.
Just when the story seemed over, it took an unexpected twist.
š¬ A Los Angeles-based production company has acquired the rights to turn Jamesā saga into a documentary series, podcast, and short-form videos, all under the title:
āThe Buried Bitcoin: The Real-Life Treasure Hunt of James Howells.ā
Now, instead of digging through a landfill, Howells is telling his story to the world. āThis project is a way to show my journey and inspire others,ā he shared. āAnd noāI havenāt given up.ā
---
š Moral of the story?
In crypto and in life, one lost file can cost a fortuneābut persistence and storytelling might just turn loss into legacy.
š„ Would you watch The Buried Bitcoin?
$BTC
$ETH
$BNB
#BigTechStablecoin #TrumpVsMusk #JamesHowells #TrumpTariffs #SaylorBTCPurchase
The story of James Howells isn't over just yetā¦
Back in 2013, James Howells, an IT specialist from Newport, UK, accidentally threw away an old hard drive. It wasnāt just any driveāit contained the private keys to a wallet holding 8,000 Bitcoins, worth roughly $8 million at the time.
Fast forward to 2025, and those same coins would now be worth a jaw-dropping $742 million. Realizing the magnitude of the loss, Howells launched a relentless mission to recover the hard drive from a local landfillācomplete with drones, AI scanning, and robotic diggers.
But his plans hit a wall. š«
Local authorities rejected the operation, citing environmental risksāincluding potential toxic gas releases and soil contamination. British law also complicated things: anything discarded in a landfill becomes property of the site. Courts ultimately ruled against excavation, arguing the drive likely deteriorated beyond recovery.
Just when the story seemed over, it took an unexpected twist.
š¬ A Los Angeles-based production company has acquired the rights to turn Jamesā saga into a documentary series, podcast, and short-form videos, all under the title:
āThe Buried Bitcoin: The Real-Life Treasure Hunt of James Howells.ā
Now, instead of digging through a landfill, Howells is telling his story to the world. āThis project is a way to show my journey and inspire others,ā he shared. āAnd noāI havenāt given up.ā
---
š Moral of the story?
In crypto and in life, one lost file can cost a fortuneābut persistence and storytelling might just turn loss into legacy.
š„ Would you watch The Buried Bitcoin?
$BTC
$ETH
$BNB
#BigTechStablecoin #TrumpVsMusk #JamesHowells #TrumpTariffs #SaylorBTCPurchase
šØ LOST $765M IN BITCOIN? UK COURT SAYS NO DIGGING! š±š°
Imagine accidentally throwing away a hard drive containing 8,000 BTCānow worth a jaw-dropping $765 MILLION! š¤Æ Thatās exactly what happened to James Howells, an IT specialist from Wales. But after 11 years of legal battles, the UK Court of Appeals just shut him down AGAIN! š«ā
š„ Why the Denial?
š¹ Local authorities claim that digging up the landfill would cause environmental risks and legal chaos. šāļø
š¹ Howells argues this is a massive injustice and is now taking his fight to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)āhis last hope! ā”
š„ What Happens Next?
Will the ECHR step in and finally give him the green light to dig? šļø Or will his lost Bitcoin fortune stay buried forever? šØšø
š¬ Do you think he should be allowed to search for his lost BTC? Drop your thoughts below! ā¬ļøš„
#LostBitcoin #CryptoDrama #BTC #JamesHowells #Bitcoin
š„ Why the Denial?
š¹ Local authorities claim that digging up the landfill would cause environmental risks and legal chaos. šāļø
š¹ Howells argues this is a massive injustice and is now taking his fight to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)āhis last hope! ā”
š„ What Happens Next?
Will the ECHR step in and finally give him the green light to dig? šļø Or will his lost Bitcoin fortune stay buried forever? šØšø
š¬ Do you think he should be allowed to search for his lost BTC? Drop your thoughts below! ā¬ļøš„
#LostBitcoin #CryptoDrama #BTC #JamesHowells #Bitcoin
After 12 Years, the 8,000 $BTC Dream Is Over
#JamesHowells the man who accidentally threw away a hard drive containing 8,000 $BTC back in 2013, has finally ended his search. After spending over a decade trying to recover it, from offering rewards to proposing robotic excavation. His legal efforts have come to a dead end in 2025.
At todayās price, that lost stash is worth more than $900M. Painful, but itās also one of cryptoās most cautionary tales: not your keys, not your coinsā¦ not your landfill either.
#ProjectCrypto
#TrumpTariffs
#MarketPullback
#JamesHowells the man who accidentally threw away a hard drive containing 8,000 $BTC back in 2013, has finally ended his search. After spending over a decade trying to recover it, from offering rewards to proposing robotic excavation. His legal efforts have come to a dead end in 2025.
At todayās price, that lost stash is worth more than $900M. Painful, but itās also one of cryptoās most cautionary tales: not your keys, not your coinsā¦ not your landfill either.
#ProjectCrypto
#TrumpTariffs
#MarketPullback
šJames Howellās Lost Bitcoin Wallet Now Worth Over $930 Million
ā The Epic Quest to Recover a Digital Fortune š°š¾
Back in Bitcoinās early days, James Howell was a true pioneer, mining around 8,000 Bitcoins when few believed in their value. But a costly mistake turned his fortune into a buried treasure ā he accidentally threw away the hard drive containing his Bitcoin wallet, now resting deep in a Newport landfill. šļøš
The Early Days & The Costly Mistake
In 2009, Howell was among the first to run Bitcoin software and mine thousands of coins. By 2013, unaware of Bitcoinās skyrocketing price, he discarded the hard drive holding his wallet ā a decision that changed everything. šā”
Race Against Time & Legal Roadblocks
As Bitcoinās value soared during the 2013 bull run, James realized his lost wallet could be worth nearly $10 million. He reached out to Newport City Council and landfill operators but faced constant legal hurdles, with his attempts to recover the hard drive repeatedly blocked. šļøš«
Is Recovery Still Possible?
Though the hard driveās case likely suffered environmental damage, experts believe advanced forensic tech might still recover the digital data inside. Over 10 years, James offered a 25% share, a formal Ā£25M offer, expert recovery teams, and legal action ā but all were met with silence or rejection. šš
A New Hope: Ceiniog Coin & Community Power
Never giving up, James launched a bold new plan: tokenize the lost Bitcoin wallet by creating Ceiniog coin ā a cryptocurrency that mirrors the exact amount of lost Bitcoin. This token will help fund excavation efforts by inviting the community to buy in. If successful, token holders could earn Bitcoin rewards from the recovered wallet! šš
Ceiniog coin is more than a fundraiser ā itās a Bitcoin-focused DeFi utility launching late 2025, integrating with platforms like Stacks, Runes, and Ordinals. James aims to revive Bitcoinās original purpose as peer-to-peer electronic cash, not just a store of value. šš„
Despite endless challenges, James Howellās determination shines bright, sparking hope that this lost treasure may one day be reclaimed. šāØ
#LostBitcoin #JamesHowells #CeiniogCoin #BitcoinRecovery #CryptoCommunity $BTC
Back in Bitcoinās early days, James Howell was a true pioneer, mining around 8,000 Bitcoins when few believed in their value. But a costly mistake turned his fortune into a buried treasure ā he accidentally threw away the hard drive containing his Bitcoin wallet, now resting deep in a Newport landfill. šļøš
The Early Days & The Costly Mistake
In 2009, Howell was among the first to run Bitcoin software and mine thousands of coins. By 2013, unaware of Bitcoinās skyrocketing price, he discarded the hard drive holding his wallet ā a decision that changed everything. šā”
Race Against Time & Legal Roadblocks
As Bitcoinās value soared during the 2013 bull run, James realized his lost wallet could be worth nearly $10 million. He reached out to Newport City Council and landfill operators but faced constant legal hurdles, with his attempts to recover the hard drive repeatedly blocked. šļøš«
Is Recovery Still Possible?
Though the hard driveās case likely suffered environmental damage, experts believe advanced forensic tech might still recover the digital data inside. Over 10 years, James offered a 25% share, a formal Ā£25M offer, expert recovery teams, and legal action ā but all were met with silence or rejection. šš
A New Hope: Ceiniog Coin & Community Power
Never giving up, James launched a bold new plan: tokenize the lost Bitcoin wallet by creating Ceiniog coin ā a cryptocurrency that mirrors the exact amount of lost Bitcoin. This token will help fund excavation efforts by inviting the community to buy in. If successful, token holders could earn Bitcoin rewards from the recovered wallet! šš
Ceiniog coin is more than a fundraiser ā itās a Bitcoin-focused DeFi utility launching late 2025, integrating with platforms like Stacks, Runes, and Ordinals. James aims to revive Bitcoinās original purpose as peer-to-peer electronic cash, not just a store of value. šš„
Despite endless challenges, James Howellās determination shines bright, sparking hope that this lost treasure may one day be reclaimed. šāØ
#LostBitcoin #JamesHowells #CeiniogCoin #BitcoinRecovery #CryptoCommunity $BTC
UK man who lost 8,000 $BTC bitcoin in landfill says he hasnāt given up, pivots to tokenizing legal claim
James Howells, the man who has been hunting down his lost hard drive containing 8,000 BTC, addressed circulating reports claiming that he has given up on his 12-year search.
In 2013, a British IT engineer accidentally threw out his hard drive containing Bitcoin he had mined a few years earlier, which ended up in a landfill site in Newport.
As bitcoin's value soared exponentially over the following years, Howells sought permission to excavate the landfill, only to have his request rejected by the regional council. Howells explored other options, such as using AI to help locate the hard drive. With today's bitcoin price of $114,231, Howell's lost hard drive is worth around $915 million.
Earlier this week, several social media posts emerged saying that Howells has officially ended his quest to recover the lost bitcoin.
"No, I have not 'given up," Howells told The Block via direct message on social media platform X. "The story going around is partially true, but not in the way itās being framed."
Howells explained that on July 1, he made a formal offer of between $33 million and $40 million in value to acquire and excavate the Newport landfill site, sent to the Newport City Council's leader, legal team and a member of its parliament.
To raise funds for the acquisition, Howells had announced plans to launch an Ordinals-based token in October, representing 21% of the lost wallet's value.
Despite the sizable amount of the offer, Newport representatives have not replied or acknowledged the offer, according to Howells.
"So hereās where we stand ā If they wonāt sell, thereās no need for a token sale to buy the landfill," Howells said. "I am no longer pursuing the purchase of the landfill, I am no longer pursuing excavation or remediation, I am no longer pursuing dialogue with the council or its representatives."
#BTCRecovery #JamesHowells #BTCā #theblock #cryptominister $SOL $BNB
James Howells, the man who has been hunting down his lost hard drive containing 8,000 BTC, addressed circulating reports claiming that he has given up on his 12-year search.
In 2013, a British IT engineer accidentally threw out his hard drive containing Bitcoin he had mined a few years earlier, which ended up in a landfill site in Newport.
As bitcoin's value soared exponentially over the following years, Howells sought permission to excavate the landfill, only to have his request rejected by the regional council. Howells explored other options, such as using AI to help locate the hard drive. With today's bitcoin price of $114,231, Howell's lost hard drive is worth around $915 million.
Earlier this week, several social media posts emerged saying that Howells has officially ended his quest to recover the lost bitcoin.
"No, I have not 'given up," Howells told The Block via direct message on social media platform X. "The story going around is partially true, but not in the way itās being framed."
Howells explained that on July 1, he made a formal offer of between $33 million and $40 million in value to acquire and excavate the Newport landfill site, sent to the Newport City Council's leader, legal team and a member of its parliament.
To raise funds for the acquisition, Howells had announced plans to launch an Ordinals-based token in October, representing 21% of the lost wallet's value.
Despite the sizable amount of the offer, Newport representatives have not replied or acknowledged the offer, according to Howells.
"So hereās where we stand ā If they wonāt sell, thereās no need for a token sale to buy the landfill," Howells said. "I am no longer pursuing the purchase of the landfill, I am no longer pursuing excavation or remediation, I am no longer pursuing dialogue with the council or its representatives."
#BTCRecovery #JamesHowells #BTCā #theblock #cryptominister $SOL $BNB
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British Man Loses 8,000 Bitcoins, Asks AI to Help File a Lawsuit to Recover Treasure
Lawsuit to Reclaim 8,000 BTC Enters New Phase
#JamesHowells , the man who lost 8,000 Bitcoins in a UK landfill 12 years ago, has filed an appeal to the Royal Court of London after the High Court rejected his request to excavate them.
Despite Judge Keyser KC declaring the case āwithout any prospect of success,ā Howells is confident that he has a solid legal case. Newport City Council has repeatedly refused to allow excavation on grounds of environmental damage.
#JamesHowells , the man who lost 8,000 Bitcoins in a UK landfill 12 years ago, has filed an appeal to the Royal Court of London after the High Court rejected his request to excavate them.
Despite Judge Keyser KC declaring the case āwithout any prospect of success,ā Howells is confident that he has a solid legal case. Newport City Council has repeatedly refused to allow excavation on grounds of environmental damage.
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