It has been over ten years since James Howells’ hard drive, which contains Bitcoin valued in the hundreds of millions, ended up in a landfill in Newport.

Despite facing various challenges, Howells remains committed to his quest to reclaim the lost drive.

“This is essentially my full-time endeavor,” he shared, insisting he will “definitely not” relent.

With the cryptocurrency’s value skyrocketing recently, now estimated at approximately £620 million, Howells remarked that it “makes perfect sense” for him to concentrate on this matter, although he remains engaged in other cryptocurrency activities.

According to Howells, his former partner mistakenly discarded the hard drive, which housed 8,000 bitcoins, back in 2013, resulting in it ending up at a Newport City Council-owned landfill.

Last month, a High Court judge dismissed his attempts for access to the landfill or to claim £495 million in damages, citing a lack of “reasonable grounds” for the claim and a “no realistic prospect” of succeeding at a comprehensive trial.

Howells is now preparing to represent himself at the Court of Appeal, utilizing artificial intelligence to bolster his case. Additionally, he has expressed interest in potentially purchasing the landfill site, especially after the council indicated plans to close it in the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Newport council has refrained from further comment on the situation.

Howells, from Newport, was an early adopter of cryptocurrencies, having mined Bitcoin in 2009 when its value was significantly lower than it is today.

He claims that his ex-partner inadvertently discarded a hard drive, roughly the size of a mobile phone, that contained the Bitcoin wallet in 2013. As Bitcoin’s value surged, he assembled a team of experts to locate and retrieve it.

Howells has repeatedly sought permission from the council to access the landfill, offering them a share of the recovered Bitcoin should they succeed.

After initiating legal proceedings, the council sought a High Court hearing to challenge his claim. The judge ruled in their favor last month.

The council contended that its environmental permits prohibited any excavation attempts, asserting that such an operation could severely harm the surrounding ecosystem.

Undeterred, Howells believes he has two viable paths: either to appeal to the Court of Appeal or collaborate with investors to acquire the landfill after its upcoming closure within two years.

Speaking to BBC News, Howells expressed satisfaction with his legal team’s efforts during the High Court trial; however, he is now prepared to represent himself at the Court of Appeal, aided by an “artificial intelligence agent.”

He praised AI as “incredibly impressive technology” that has clarified legal processes for him, affirming he has about seven “solid legal arguments” for his case, which he hopes to present in person.

Central to his case is the argument against the council’s intent to close the landfill, which he contends should have been disclosed during the High Court proceedings.

Howells revealed he is also investigating the possibility of purchasing the landfill from the council, noting he has “early-stage agreements” with investors from the Middle East and the U.S. who might provide funding if he receives authorization to acquire the site.

They’re not simply going to finance my desires; however, if the council expresses interest in selling, the funds could become available,” he explained.

The council has signaled no intention to sell the site and has secured planning permission for a solar energy project on part of the land as part of its closure plans.

After years of pursuit, including legal actions, Howells firmly believes that the hard drive remains buried within the landfill, which houses over 1.4 million tonnes of waste.

“My research and due diligence confirm that anything sent to that site remains there. Where else could it possibly be?” he questioned.

When asked about relinquishing his mission, he firmly stated: “Absolutely not. This feels like the climactic battle in Braveheart.”

Bitcoin is classified as a cryptocurrency, representing a digital currency without physical representation.

Bitcoin can be divided into smaller denominations, with the smallest being a satoshi.

These units are named after Bitcoin’s mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, who authored an influential whitepaper on the currency in 2008.

Early investors like Howells were involved in a niche community called Cypherpunks, noted Billy Bambrough, author of the CryptoCodex newsletter.

Although Bitcoin wasn’t the first cryptocurrency, it captured significant attention, with initial supporters becoming quickly fascinated.

The price of Bitcoin began to rise around 2016 and 2017, and again in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in substantial gains across stock markets and cryptocurrencies alike.

Many people experienced financial success, but numerous others incurred losses, Bambrough explained.

Bitcoin also saw rapid price increases following the late 2024 electoral victory of Donald Trump, whose administration was perceived as more favorable toward cryptocurrencies compared to the Biden administration.

In response to the fast price increases, many in the Bitcoin sphere speculate on even higher valuations.

It’s no surprise that Howells is eager to recover his lost Bitcoin.