James Howells, an IT engineer from Newport, Wales, has lost his 12-year legal fight to recover a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin—now worth over $770 million. In a recent decision, Judge Keyser of Wales dismissed Howells' case, ruling it had “no realistic prospect” of success, according to a BBC report.

The saga began in 2013 when Howells mistakenly discarded the hard drive, which ended up buried in a Newport landfill. Despite numerous requests, the Newport City Council has consistently denied him access, citing environmental concerns. Howells offered a share of the Bitcoin as incentive, but the council remained firm, stating that excavation would cause significant ecological damage.

This case has drawn renewed attention amid Bitcoin’s 2024 surge past $100,000, making Howells’ lost fortune even more staggering. Frustrated with the decision, Howells expressed disappointment, claiming his case did not receive the level of attention it deserved. However, the court did acknowledge his ownership of the Bitcoin, which he sees as a stepping stone to exploring tokenization options for his assets.

The council has faced allegations from Howells of breaching environmental regulations, including claims of toxic waste leakage. Despite presenting over 100 pieces of evidence, his accusations have not influenced the council’s stance.

With this legal avenue closed, Howells' dream of recovering his Bitcoin remains out of reach. The case highlights the irreversible cost of early cryptocurrency mishaps and the challenges of balancing environmental concerns with financial pursuits.