Bitcoin Hunter Takes Case to Human Rights Court
The Essentials at a Glance
James Howells has been fighting for over a decade to recover a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin (BTC) from a landfill in Newport, Wales. His latest legal appeal has been rejected, further diminishing his chances of retrieval. The city council refuses to grant excavation permission due to environmental concerns. Howells now plans to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights.
How 8,000 Bitcoin Ended Up in a Landfill
In 2013, when Bitcoin was worth around 100 USD per coin, Howells accidentally discarded a hard drive containing the private keys to his BTC holdings. At the time, the total value was approximately 800,000 USD. The hard drive ended up in the Docksway landfill in Newport.
Since then, Bitcoin’s price has risen significantly. In March 2025, it reached 83,969 USD, increasing the current value of the lost Bitcoin to around 672 million USD.
Legal Battles and Setbacks
Since realizing his mistake, Howells has repeatedly attempted to obtain permission to recover the hard drive. He offered to cover the costs himself and share a portion of the Bitcoin with the city and community. However, Newport City Council has consistently rejected his requests, primarily due to environmental concerns.
In December 2024, Howells sued the city council for 495 million British pounds in damages. He argued that he had the right to search for his property. However, in January 2025, a UK court ruled against him. The judge stated that his lawsuit had no realistic chance of success. Additionally, it was confirmed that items disposed of in a landfill legally become the property of the city.
Last Legal Option: European Court
Despite the defeat, Howells is not giving up. He plans to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights, claiming that the city council’s refusal violates his property rights.
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The situation is becoming even more pressing: The city of Newport plans to close the landfill by 2026 and build a solar farm on the site. As a result, Howells is considering purchasing the landfill to continue his search for the hard drive. Whether he succeeds and whether the hard drive remains readable after more than ten years remains uncertain.
Our Assessment
The case of James Howells highlights the challenges of dealing with lost digital assets. While his persistence is understandable, he faces significant legal and practical obstacles. Even if he obtains permission or ownership of the landfill, it remains doubtful whether the hard drive will still be functional after such a long time.
Whether the European Court will take up his case and how the city of Newport will respond to potential purchase offers remains to be seen.
| Symbol | BTC |
| Coin type | Alt Coin |
| Transaction Speed | Slow |
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Further practical applications | |
| Price | $81,825.00 |
| 24h % | -2.89 % |
| 7d % | 0.75 % |
| 30d % | -15.71 % |
| 60d % | -22.13 % |
| 1y % | 22.34 % |
| Market Cap | $1,618,496,835,016.00 |
| Max. Supply | 21,000,000.00 |
| Official Links | Website | Whitepaper | Source Code |
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