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Man who lost Bitcoin fortune in Welsh tip explores purchase of entire landfill

James Howells lost case to force Newport city council to allow him to search for hard drive discarded by accident

If Newport city council would be willing, I would potentially be interested in purchasing the landfill site ‘as is’ and have discussed this option with investment partners and it is something that is very much on the table.” When he appeared at Cardiff civil justice centre, represented by lawyers working pro bono, Howells described how in the summer of 2013 he accidentally put the hard drive containing his bitcoin wallet in a black bag during an office sort-out and left it in the hall of his house. Howells quickly realised the mistake and ever since has been asking the council to help him retrieve the hard drive, even offering to share the money with the authority, to no avail.

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