The dispute centers around a hard drive he discarded in 2013, which contains approximately 8,000 bitcoins now worth over $500 million. Howells argues that the council’s refusal to allow a recovery mission has caused significant financial loss.
Howells has developed an elaborate $11 million recovery plan, including using two robotic dogs from Boston Dynamics and AI-driven equipment to search for the hard drive buried deep beneath layers of waste. Despite securing investment backing, Newport’s council has rejected his requests, citing ecological risks. They maintain that any excavation could disturb the landfill’s integrity, posing environmental hazards.
The hard drive’s fate remains uncertain, as even if it were found, the physical condition of the data platter may render recovery impossible. Still, Howells persists, promising a portion of the bitcoins would fund community projects if the drive is retrieved successfully. His legal battle is ongoing, aiming to convince the council that the financial benefits outweigh the ecological risks.
This story highlights the dramatic consequences of early cryptocurrency adoption, where misplaced data can lead to monumental financial loss. Howells remains determined to recover his fortune, leveraging technology and legal avenues to gain access to the landfill.
