Cryptocurrency investor to be tried for finding $ 500 million in bitcoins thrown into trash

James Howell, a resident of Wales, is not giving up hope of finding his 8,000 BTC in a landfill. The cryptocurrency investor has announced that he will sue the local authorities of Newport (UK), which controls the landfill where Howell’s hard drive is located.

The city authorities have consistently denied the investor’s requests for excavations, and Howell’s lawsuit could completely block the landfill’s operation. In the event of a refusal, the man is demanding damages of 446 million pounds ($ 557 million) from the local authorities, which is the highest recorded value of his lost bitcoins. This amount could spell financial disaster for Newport and environmental disaster for the excavation.

«I've tried everything I could over the last 10 years, but they haven’t been willing to meet me halfway, so now we’re going to have to deal with it legally,» Howell said.

Back in 2013, a resident of Wales threw his bitcoin wallet in the trash when he was cleaning his office. Initially, he lost 7,500 BTC, but now, due to a series of deposits from unknown addresses, the wallet contains about 8,000 BTC. Last year, the man promised that if the wallet was found, he would return 10% to the community. Howell also stated that:

1. Every person in Newport will be given £50.
2. Terminals for cryptocurrency transactions will be installed in every store in the city.
3. Newport will have a mining power plant powered by wind turbines or solar panels.

«This is not just for me to get rich. I have a whole list of incentives, good things I would like to do for the local community ,» the Welshman said in August 2022.

Last year, Howell estimated that the BTC wallet was buried 15 meters deep in a dumpster. Given the almost 10-year gap since the loss and the huge weight of debris on top, it is unlikely that the hard drive would still be working.