tl;dr
The UK Court of Appeals has rejected a Wales man's request to excavate a landfill where he believes his hard drive holding $676 million in Bitcoin was dumped over a decade ago. James Howells, the software engineer who mined the lost Bitcoin in 2009, plans to bring his case to the European Courts of ...
The UK Court of Appeals has rejected a Wales man's request to excavate a landfill where he believes his hard drive holding $676 million in Bitcoin was dumped over a decade ago. James Howells, a software engineer who mined the lost Bitcoin in 2009, is determined to continue his quest for his lost fortune.
Despite the significant growth in Bitcoin's value since the hard drive was lost, Howells' efforts have been met with legal challenges. The court ruled against him, stating there was no "real prospect of success." With the landfill expected to close in the 2025-26 financial year, time is running out for Howells.
Howells took to LinkedIn to share the appeals court's final ruling, expressing his disappointment but determination to pursue justice. He has explored various legal avenues in the UK and is now looking to bring his case to the European Courts of Human Rights.
Back in 2013, Howells lost his hard drive containing the keys to 8,000 Bitcoin when his former partner accidentally discarded the device. At the time, Bitcoin's value was around $1,130, but it has since soared to $84,500 at the time of publication, showcasing the massive increase in worth of the lost tokens.
In response to the rejection from the UK Court of Appeals, Howells has contested the decision and remains resolute in his pursuit to recover his lost Bitcoin. The impending closure of the landfill adds urgency to his mission, as time is running out to access the potential treasure buried within.
The local council responsible for the Welsh landfill is set to close the site due to nearing maximum capacity in the next few financial years, further highlighting the time-sensitive nature of Howells' quest.