James Howells wants to recover his 8000 BTC lost in a landfill

James Howells, a 38-year-old British man, is determined to find 7500 bitcoins that he lost in 2013. The hard drive containing the bitcoins was inadvertently dumped in a landfill in South Wales. Right now, the value of his loss would be $200 million with one bitcoin worth $25,000.

The 38-year-old former IT worker accidentally threw the hard drive into a landfill in Newport in 2013. Since then, he has tried several times to find the drive, but the city council refuses to help.

James Howells will do anything to find his bitcoins

In January 2021, he offered to pay 25% of the value of the bitcoins to the council if it granted permission to search the landfill. In July 2021, he proposed using innovative technologies. This is the case of X-rays and artificial intelligence, to identify the hard drive.

Also, in a Sept. 4 letter, Howells' legal team asked the city council to grant it the right to dig up the landfill. However, the municipal council has not yet responded to this request.

In a statement from Howells, he indicated he was determined to recover his lost bitcoins in the hard drive. This, even if he had to institute legal action. He says he is ready to pay all excavation expenses. He would also be willing to contribute to the Newport community through various aids.

A difficult test, but not impossible

If the hard drive was wrapped in a protective covering or sealed bag, it may have been protected from the corrosive elements of the landfill. Additionally, if it settled in an area with low humidity and chemicals, it may remain relatively well preserved.

Furthermore, even if the hard drive is in a decent physical condition, it will still be difficult to extract the data. However, technological advances since 2013 would make data recovery easier. Data recovery experts can now use advanced techniques and equipment to repair or replace damaged hardware components.

This story is interesting and useful because Howells' case is an important reminder of the importance of backing up your data securely. Bitcoins are cryptographic digital assets that are stored on computers. They have become increasingly popular in recent years, and their value is increasing exponentially. Therefore, it is important to take care of it to avoid ending up in James Howells' shoes.