Image credit: The Byteline

James Howells is refusing to give up in his decade-long battle to recover a hard drive containing Bitcoin now worth an estimated £620 million, despite legal setbacks and environmental restrictions preventing him from searching for it.

“This is my job, if you will. My 9 to 5,” Howells told BBC News, insisting he would “absolutely not” stop his mission to retrieve the device, which he claims was mistakenly thrown away by his former partner in 2013.

Howells’ hard drive, which holds 8,000 Bitcoin, ended up in a landfill in Newport, Wales, but his efforts to excavate the site have repeatedly been blocked by Newport City Council. A High Court judge dismissed his case last month, ruling there were no “reasonable grounds” for a legal claim or “realistic prospect” of success at trial.

Unwilling to walk away, Howells is now taking his fight to the Court of Appeal, representing himself with the assistance of artificial intelligence. He has also expressed interest in buying the landfill outright, after the council announced plans to close it within the next two years.

Legal Battle and AI Support

Speaking to BBC News, Howells said he was pleased with his legal team’s efforts in the High Court but is now taking matters into his own hands. He described AI as an “absolutely amazing technology” that has helped him better understand legal procedures, and he believes he has seven solid legal grounds for his appeal.

One of his key arguments is that the council’s decision to shut down the landfill site was not disclosed during the High Court trial, which he claims is crucial information.

“That is material information that should have been made [at the trial] – the judge should have been aware of that, as well as myself,” he said.

Howells has also argued that his hard drive should never have been considered the council’s property, as it was discarded without his permission.

“It was taken without my permission or consent,” he told BBC News.

Buying the Landfill: A Last Resort?

With his legal options narrowing, Howells is exploring buying the landfill outright, saying he has preliminary agreements with investors from the Middle East and the U.S. who are willing to finance the deal if the council is open to negotiations.

“They're not just going to put millions of quid in my back pocket… but if the council shows a willingness to sell the site, then the funding will be available,” he said.

Newport City Council has not indicated any interest in selling the landfill and has already secured planning permission for a solar farm to be built on part of the site once it closes. Officials have also rejected previous excavation requests, citing environmental risks.

The Bitcoin Boom Driving His Pursuit

Howells has spent over a decade trying to recover his lost fortune, but recent Bitcoin price surges have only strengthened his determination.

“The cryptocurrency also saw rapid increases in late 2024, shortly after Donald Trump's victory in the US general election, with his administration being seen as far friendlier towards cryptocurrencies than the Biden White House,” BBC’s Billy Bambrough said.

With Bitcoin’s value climbing, Howells is more convinced than ever that his missing hard drive is worth the fight.

Asked if he would ever walk away, he responded: “Absolutely not. This is like the final battle in Braveheart.”

‍