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The High Court judge has dismissed James Howell’s legal attempts to access Bitcoin 
$106,037 valued at £600 million. The ruling by Andrew John Keyser KC marks the end of Howell’s prolonged legal battle with Newport City Council regarding the recovery of his lost cryptocurrency.
The Bitcoin Case of James Howell
James Howell, an early investor in Bitcoin, claimed he accidentally discarded a hard drive containing 7,500 BTC in 2013. The council argued that the hard drive became its property after being disposed of, in accordance with existing waste disposal laws. Furthermore, the court clarified that environmental permits prohibited excavating the landfill to retrieve the device.
Judge Keyser KC rejected Howell’s claim, stating it lacked reasonable grounds and had low chances of success. Newport City Council denied Howell access to the landfill, citing legal restrictions. Under current permits, excavating the landfill, which contains over 1.4 million tons of waste, is not feasible.
James Howell and His Regrets
Howell expressed that the value of the 7,500 BTC he purchased years ago has significantly increased, prompting him to intensify efforts to recover it. At the time of the court’s ruling, Bitcoin’s price was around $95,000.
He emphasized that the lost funds could change his life, yet he is unable to recover the hard drive due to legal and regulatory constraints. Howell had previously indicated his intention to escalate the case to the UK Supreme Court.
After years of struggle, Howell can no longer request the landfill to be sifted through. Despite the potential of locating a massive amount of Bitcoin, the environmental damage caused is the court’s primary motivation for rejection.
