Man Who Lost Bitcoin Fortune In Welsh Tip Explores Purchase of Entire Landfill

AmiMoJo writes: A computer expert who has battled for a decade to recover a $743 million bitcoin fortune he believes is buried in a council dump in south Wales is considering buying the site so he can hunt for the missing fortune. James Howells lost a high court case last month to force Newport city council to allow him to search the tip to retrieve a hard drive he says contains the bitcoins.

The council has since announced plans to close and cap the site, which would almost certainly spell the end of any lingering hopes of reaching the bitcoins. The authority has secured planning permission for a solar farm on part of the land. Howells, 39, said on Monday it had been 'quite a surprise' to hear of the closure plan. He said: 'It [the council] claimed at the high court that closing the landfill to allow me to search would have a huge detrimental impact on the people of Newport, whilst at the same time they were planning to close the landfill anyway. I expected it would be closed in the coming years because it's 80/90% full -- but didn't expect its closure so soon. 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.'

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