The owner of the lost hard drive containing keys to $900 million in bitcoins has denied reports of ceasing the search.
British engineer James Howells, who in 2013 threw away a hard drive containing the keys to a wallet with 8,000 bitcoins, has denied recent reports that he has finally given up on his 12-year quest to recover the cryptocurrency. At the current exchange rate, the value of the lost bitcoins exceeds $900 million.
After the rise in the price of bitcoin, Howells repeatedly requested permission to excavate the landfill in Newport but was denied. He also considered using AI to locate the drive.
“No, I haven’t given up [as the media reports]. The story that is circulating is partially true, but not in the way it is presented,” he said in a comment to The Block.
Previously, Howells submitted a proposal to the city authorities to buy the landfill site for $33-40 million but did not receive a response. He has now abandoned the buyout idea and will cease any attempts to interact with the administration. He emphasized that he does not renounce the bitcoins and remains their legal owner. According to him, this is confirmed by a decision of the High Court of the United Kingdom.
“The authorities may own the hard drive, but not the digital assets on it. Eight thousand bitcoins legally belong to me. Anyone can check the wallet balance at any time,” Howells noted. He now plans to tokenize his legal rights to his bitcoins.
In April, media company Lebul acquired the rights to adapt Howells' story. The project includes a documentary series titled 'Buried Bitcoin: The Real-Life Treasure Hunt of James Howells' and a podcast. The company stated that the story will showcase not only the search for the drive but also 'legal disputes, environmental issues, and cultural context.'
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