After years of unsuccessful negotiations with Newport City Council, James Howells hopes to purchase a landfill, allowing him to excavate and find a discarded hard drive containing his fortune in Bitcoin.
Bitcoin Hunter Seeks Newport Landfill Acquisition in Final Attempt

Bitcoin Hunter Seeks Newport Landfill Acquisition in Final Attempt
James Howells proposes buying the landfill to search for a long-lost Bitcoin wallet worth around $800 million.
In a desperate bid that has persisted for over twelve years, James Howells is making one last attempt to recover a lost Bitcoin wallet believed to hold a staggering value of roughly $800 million. His unconventional plan involves a request for Newport City Council in South Wales to either allow him to excavate the city’s landfill or give him the opportunity to buy it outright.
Howells' ambition is straightforward: acquire the landfill, sift through thousands of tons of refuse, and utilize advanced A.I. technology alongside magnetic belts to retrieve his fabled hard drive which he mistakenly disposed of back in 2013. “This seems logical,” he stated, emphasizing the simplicity and intent behind his proposal.
Throughout the years, Howells has engaged in numerous discussions, negotiations, and even legal battles to convince the council to grant him access to search through the site, where he believes the hard drive resides among other waste. Despite his diligent efforts and claims of securing a data recovery firm, the city has remained reluctant and plans to permanently close the landfill.
Now, he believes a purchase could be mutually beneficial: “Seems like a better plan for me and the city,” said Howells, who envisions transforming the landfill space into a park, or returning it to operational use while pursuing his long-lost treasure.
With the council's cooperation still on uncertain ground, Howells remains hopeful as he navigates the complex interplay of local governance and personal redemption in his pursuit of digital riches.