Summary:
UK Court of Appeals denies man's request to excavate landfill for lost Bitcoin worth $676 million.
James Howells plans to escalate to the European Courts of Human Rights after exhausting UK options.
He lost access to 8,000 Bitcoin in 2013, with current value skyrocketing to $84,500.
The case underscores the challenges of custodying cryptocurrencies.
Local council plans to close the landfill by 2025-26, adding urgency to Howells' fight.
Court Denies Excavation Request
The UK Court of Appeals has turned down a request from James Howells, a man from Wales, to excavate a landfill where he believes his hard drive containing $676 million in Bitcoin was discarded over a decade ago.
James Howells, who mined the lost Bitcoin back in 2009, shared a screenshot of the court's final ruling on LinkedIn. He has been engaged in a prolonged legal battle to access the landfill, even considering the possibility of purchasing the waste site.
Next Steps: European Courts
With all legal avenues in the UK exhausted, Howells plans to escalate his case to the European Courts of Human Rights. In a LinkedIn post, he expressed his frustration, stating, “The Great British Injustice System strikes again… Moral of the Story: The state always protects the state.”
A Lost Fortune
Howells lost his hard drive containing the keys to 8,000 Bitcoin in 2013, after it was accidentally thrown away by his former partner. At that time, Bitcoin peaked at around $1,130. As of now, the value of those coins has skyrocketed, with Bitcoin trading at $84,500, marking a staggering increase of over 7000%.
The Challenge of Custody
This case highlights a common issue faced by many crypto holders regarding the custody of their cryptocurrencies. The U.K. Court of Appeals, represented by Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Nugee, stated that Howells' appeal had “no real prospect of success.”
In response, Howells asserted, “The British establishment wants to sweep this under the carpet, and I will not let them.” He remains determined to pursue his case, even as time runs out to retrieve his hard drive, with the landfill expected to close by the 2025-26 financial year.
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