James Howells, the Welsh software engineer who accidentally discarded a hard drive holding 8,000 Bitcoin in 2013—now valued at approximately $676 million— has vowed to take his fight to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) after losing his final appeal in the UK Court of Appeal.
In a LinkedIn post on Friday, Howells shared a screenshot of the court’s ruling, expressing frustration over the legal system’s decision to deny his request to excavate the landfill where he believes his Bitcoin remains buried. Referring to the ruling as yet another example of state overreach, he wrote:
“The Great British Injustice System strikes again… Moral of the Story: The state always protects the state. Next stop: ECHR.”
In 2013, James Howells, a former IT worker from Newport, Wales,. mistakenly threw away a hard drive containing the private keys to his Bitcoin holdings. At that time, Bitcoin’s value was relatively low, but with its exponential increase over the years, the lost stash has grown to a substantial fortune. Realizing the magnitude of his loss, Howells initiated multiple attempts to gain permission from the Newport City Council to search the landfill, all of which have been unsuccessful.
Legal Proceedings and Council’s Stance
Howells’ legal journey has been fraught with challenges. The Newport City Council has consistently denied his excavation requests, citing environmental concerns and the potential costs associated with such an operation. The council maintains that the hard drive, once deposited in the landfill, became their property, and any disturbance to the site could pose ecological risks.
Despite assembling a team of experts and proposing detailed plans to mitigate environmental impact, Howells’ appeals have been dismissed. In January 2025, Judge Keyser KC ruled against his claim, stating it had “no realistic prospect of succeeding.” This decision was recently upheld by the UK Court of Appeals, leaving Howells with limited options within the UK legal system.
Undeterred by the legal setbacks, Howells considers taking his case to the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that the council’s refusal infringes upon his property rights. Additionally, he has contemplated purchasing the entire landfill site to search independently, though this approach presents significant financial and logistical challenges.
Howells Faces a Race Against Time
James Howells is just one of many early Bitcoin adopters who saw their digital fortunes skyrocket, only to find themselves locked out of their holdings due to lost private keys.
Despite his determination to continue the fight, time is working against Howells. In a letter from Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Nugee of the UK Court of Appeals, the judge dismissed Howells’ appeal, stating that his case had “no real prospect of success.”
While Howells insists he still has legal options left considering his decision to approach the European Court of Human Rights, the opportunity to physically recover his lost Bitcoin is slipping away.
According to the local council’s draft budget, the Welsh landfill where his hard drive is allegedly buried is expected to reach full capacity and be permanently closed during the 2025-26 financial year. If that happens before Howells secures permission to excavate, any chance of retrieving the Bitcoin may be lost forever under layers of waste and government restrictions.
Quick Facts:
- James Howells accidentally discarded a hard drive in 2013 containing 8,000 Bitcoin worth approximately $676 million.
- The UK Court of Appeals has denied his request to excavate the landfill where the hard drive is believed to be located, citing environmental and logistical concerns.
- Howells is considering escalating his case to the European Court of Human Rights and exploring the possibility of purchasing the landfill to search independently.
