Is this the end of the Newport tip Bitcoin saga?
Newport Bitcoin Landfill Battle Ends as James Howells Launches Ceiniog Coin After £695m Loss
After 12 years of legal battles, court hearings, and public disputes, the infamous Newport Bitcoin landfill saga may finally be over.
James Howells, a computer engineer from Newport, claimed that in 2013 his ex-girlfriend accidentally threw away a hard drive containing 8,000 bitcoins – now valued at around £695 million.
Despite years of efforts, including a High Court and Court of Appeal case, Howells has officially given up on retrieving the digital fortune.
From Bitcoin Hunt to Ceiniog Coin Launch
Instead of continuing his battle to recover the lost wallet, Howells has launched his own cryptocurrency, Ceiniog Coin, in hopes of recouping some of the massive loss.
Earlier this year, he offered to buy the landfill site after Newport Council announced plans to close it in the 2025-26 financial year.
However, the council rejected the offer, stating that Howells owes them just under £117,000 in legal fees from previous attempts to purchase the site.
Council vs Howells – The Final Chapter?
A Newport Council spokesperson told BBC News:
“We will not be spending any more of our officers' time on this issue until that payment is made.”
Howells called the demand “financial coercion”, a claim to which the council has declined to respond.
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