News 
February 10, 2025 
3 min. 
A landfill site in Newport, Wales, which has been at the heart of an ongoing battle over a lost Bitcoin fortune, is reportedly set to close within the next two years. The site is believed to contain a hard drive with 8,000 Bitcoin, currently valued at around $768 million, mistakenly discarded in 2013.
End of the Bitcoin Long Battle
Operational since the early 2000s, the Newport landfill is nearing the end of its lifespan. According to a spokesperson for the Newport council, this particular site is intended to be closed and capped by the 2025-26 financial year. Along with the plans, the council has also received approval to develop a solar farm on part of the allocated land. The plans are further cementing the council’s intentions to close the site.
After being lost for over a decade, local IT worker James Howells is still using his bare minimum resources to fight a never ending battle. He claims that his ex-partner tossed out the hard drive that housed his Bitcoin fortune. In good faith, Howells offered to reveal some of the funds in exchange for permission every time he sought approval from the council to excavate the site.
He even proposed using AI-driven technology to locate the drive without financial or environmental costs to the public. However, his efforts faced strong resistance. In October, the council cited environmental concerns as a key reason for denying excavation, stating it could have a “huge negative impact” on the surrounding area. In January, Howells’ legal battle came to an end when a judge dismissed his case, ruling that it had “no realistic prospect” of success.
A Lost Fortune in a Digital Black Hole
Howells’ hard drive is just one example of the vast amount of Bitcoin lost over the years. Web3 executive Al Leong estimates that up to 3 million BTC—around 13% of the total supply—may be permanently inaccessible due to lost private keys and misplaced wallets.
While many assume these lost funds are gone forever, some speculate that advancements in quantum computing could change that. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino recently suggested that quantum technology might eventually be able to crack Bitcoin wallets, potentially putting lost BTC back into circulation. If that happens, analysts warn it could lead to significant sell pressure on Bitcoin’s market.
For now, however, the Newport landfill—and the millions in Bitcoin potentially buried beneath it—will soon be closed off permanently, leaving Howells’ fortune locked away in digital limbo.
