James Howells, the British IT worker who accidentally threw out a hard drive containing 8,000 bitcoin more than a decade ago, says he hasn’t abandoned his search — despite reports to the contrary.
Howells made headlines after the 2013 mishap, when the drive ended up in a landfill site in Newport, Wales. As bitcoin’s price surged, so did the value of his lost fortune — now worth around $915 million at today’s price of $114,231 per coin.
Over the years, he’s tried everything from legal appeals to AI-assisted excavation proposals, but Newport City Council consistently rejected his attempts to dig up the site.
Earlier this week, rumors circulated on social media claiming Howells called it quits. But in a message to The Block, he pushed back on that narrative.
“No, I have not ‘given up’,” he said. “The story going around is partially true, but not in the way it’s being framed.”
On July 1, Howells submitted a formal offer worth between $33 million and $40 million to buy the landfill from the council — an offer he says was ignored. The proposal included plans for a cleanup effort and token sale to fund the buyout.
Without a response from Newport, Howells says there’s no longer a reason to pursue the deal. “I’m no longer pursuing the purchase of the landfill, I’m no longer pursuing excavation or remediation, I’m no longer pursuing dialogue with the council or its representatives,” he said.
But he hasn’t given up on the bitcoin. Instead, Howells is shifting focus to tokenize his legal claim over the wallet. He cited a January High Court ruling affirming that while the council owns the hard drive, he retains ownership of the 8,000 BTC stored on it.
To that end, he’s planning to launch a Bitcoin Layer 2 smart token called Ceiniog Coin (INI), which will represent his legal rights to the wallet’s contents. The token will be built on a coming update to the Bitcoin network that expands OP_RETURN functionality — allowing more complex smart contracts.
The new coin is expected to launch after October, with an ICO planned later in the year. According to Howells, the goal is to create a fast, scalable Web3 ecosystem secured by the Bitcoin network and “backed” by the 8,000 BTC.
In April, Los Angeles-based media startup Lebul secured exclusive rights to develop documentaries and related content covering Howells’ efforts.
The project, titled The Buried Bitcoin: The Real-Life Treasure Hunt of James Howells, will include a premium documentary series, a podcast, and short-form digital content. Lebul described the project as combining “cinematic storytelling” with real-world stakes, highlighting elements such as blockchain, legal battles, and environmental concerns.
