Summary

A UK judge has dismissed James Howells’ legal attempt to excavate a Newport landfill to recover a hard drive containing 8,000 bitcoins, now valued at $765 million.

The court ruled against Howells due to environmental risks, ownership laws favoring the landfill authority, and a statute of limitations barring the claim.

Howells accidentally disposed of the drive in 2013, sparking his long battle to retrieve it.

He criticized the decision as unjust, while the council maintained excavation would endanger public health and breach regulations.