A landfill site in Newport, Wales, is approaching its scheduled closure between 2025 and 2026, raising concerns for a local man’s hopes of recovering a hard drive believed to contain 8,000 Bitcoin. This site has been in service since the early 2000s and is nearing the end of its operational lifespan. The local council is implementing plans to close and cap the landfill, while also securing permissions to build a solar farm on part of the property.

The drive in question was disposed of in 2013 after a mistake by the individual’s partner. The owner, an IT worker named James Howells, asserts that the hard drive holds Bitcoin he mined in 2009, which is now valued at approximately $768 million. For nearly a decade, Howells has engaged in a legal struggle against the council, seeking either permission to excavate the landfill in search of the drive or compensation for the lost assets.

In January, Howells faced a setback when a judge dismissed his case, indicating that he lacked a viable chance of winning in court. He previously claimed he had enlisted AI technology experts who could assist in locating the drive without any financial burden to the community. However, the council has maintained that excavation is not feasible under existing environmental regulations due to potential detrimental effects on the surrounding area.

This particular situation underscores a broader issue with lost cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin. Estimates suggest that around 13% of the total Bitcoin supply, equating to approximately 3 million coins, are considered lost. Discussions among industry leaders include the potential of quantum computing to access these dormant assets, raising concerns among analysts about the possible implications for Bitcoin’s market stability.