James Howells, a 38-year-old IT expert, has launched a legal battle to recover a hard drive containing Bitcoin now valued at approximately £1.5 billion. according to the daily mail. Howells has been trying to recover the stolen funds for about a decade.
James Howells, a 38-year-old IT expert, has launched a legal battle to recover a hard drive containing Bitcoin now valued at approximately £1.5 billion. according to the daily mail. Howells has been trying to recover the stolen funds for about a decade.
A decade long search
Howells’ ordeal began with a simple but fateful cleaning mishap ten years ago, resulting in unimaginable loss.
Unfortunately, this bag was mistaken for rubbish and, without realizing the crucial error, his partner dumped it in a city hall landfill.
This hard drive was not just any piece of hardware; It contained the private keys to access 8,000 Bitcoins, an asset whose value, over the years, has soared to a staggering £1.5 billion.
The realization of this error sparked a decade-long search to recover the digital treasure now buried under tons of debris.
The way to follow
The legal standoff has escalated to Superior Court, where Howells is seeking access to the landfill and arguing for the recovery of his property.
Its legal and recovery team, funded by hedge fund investors seeking a share of the potential recovery, includes search experts and data recovery engineers.
These professionals are optimistic about their ability to recover and restore the hard drive, even after years in a landfill.
The team has challenged the council’s concerns, based on precedent of successful data recovery in extreme conditions.
Despite Howells’ offer to share the profits from the recovered Bitcoin with the financially distressed council, his requests have been rejected.
