UK Court of Appeals Rejects Request to Excavate Landfill for Lost Bitcoin

James Howells, a software engineer, has been fighting to gain access to a Welsh landfill where he believes his hard drive containing $676 million in Bitcoin was dumped over a decade ago.

Howells has been waging a long legal battle to gain access to the landfill, which is nearing maximum capacity and is expected to be shut down in the 2025-26 financial year. Despite exhausting all options for legal recourse through the UK court system, Howells has now decided to take his case to the European Courts of Human Rights.

The Background

In 2009, Howells mined 8,000 Bitcoin, which he stored on a hard drive. However, in 2013, his former partner lost the device, and it was subsequently thrown away in a Welsh landfill.

The value of those 8,000 Bitcoin has grown astronomically, with the current market price standing at over $84,500, a staggering 7,000% increase from its highest price in 2013.

The Legal Battle

Howells has been fighting to gain access to the landfill, where he believes his hard drive is still buried. In 2022, he launched an appeal to the UK Court of Appeals, which has now been rejected.

In a letter to Howells, RT. Hon. Lord Justice Nugee of the UK Court of Appeals stated that he rejected the appeal because it did not have “any real prospect of success.”

Howells has refuted the judge’s argument, stating that the British establishment is trying to sweep the issue under the carpet and that he will continue to fight for justice.

The Consequences

Time is running out for Howells, as the local council that oversees the Welsh landfill is expected to shut down the site in the 2025-26 financial year. The council’s draft budget has revealed plans to shutter the landfill, which is nearing maximum capacity.

Conclusion

The case of James Howells highlights the difficulties of custodianship for cryptocurrency holders and the importance of taking measures to secure their assets. As the value of cryptocurrencies continues to rise, the need for reliable storage solutions and contingency plans becomes increasingly pressing.

FAQs

Q: What is the current value of the 8,000 Bitcoin lost by James Howells?

A: The current market price of the 8,000 Bitcoin is over $84,500.

Q: Why did James Howells’ former partner throw away the hard drive containing the Bitcoin keys?

A: The exact reason is unknown, but it is reported that the partner lost the device and threw it away in a Welsh landfill.

Q: What is the status of James Howells’ legal battle?

A: The UK Court of Appeals has rejected Howells’ appeal, and he is now taking his case to the European Courts of Human Rights.

Q: What is the expected timeline for the shutdown of the Welsh landfill?

A: The local council has announced plans to shut down the landfill in the 2025-26 financial year, which is nearing maximum capacity.