British Resident Sues Newport Authorities for £495M Over Lost Bitcoin Hard Drive

A British man has launched a £495 million lawsuit against Newport authorities after they refused to allow him to excavate a landfill where he believes his lost fortune is buried. Back in 2013, the man mistakenly discarded a hard drive containing 8,000 bitcoins—now worth hundreds of millions of pounds—into the Newport landfill.

Over the years, the value of bitcoin has skyrocketed, turning what was once an overlooked loss into a financial goldmine. The man has been desperately trying to recover the hard drive ever since but has faced repeated rejection from the Newport City Council. Officials cite the significant environmental risks and logistical complications of digging through tons of waste to retrieve the device.

Despite proposing various plans to safely conduct the excavation, including employing high-tech equipment and experts to minimize environmental impact, the authorities remain unconvinced. Their priority, they say, is protecting the community and the environment from potential hazards posed by the excavation.