The situation has raised awareness about the risks associated with self-custody of digital assets, emphasizing the need for secure storage solutions.

The hard drive was thrown away when Bitcoin was valued at less than $1 per token, highlighting the drastic increase in Bitcoin's worth over the years.

The case has attracted significant social media attention, with many speculating on the possibility of Howells reclaiming his lost fortune.

Howells maintains that he legally owns the digital property on the hard drive and insists he should be allowed to recover it at his own expense.

The first court hearing regarding Howells' lawsuit against the council is scheduled for December 3, 2024, where a judge will rule on the case.

Howells is currently taking legal action against Newport City Council to recover the hard drive, which he believes is buried under 110,000 tons of waste.

He has pledged to privately fund the excavation, offering $11 million for expenses and promising to donate 10% of any recovered funds to the council.

Halfina Eddy-Evans accidentally disposed of an old hard drive containing 8,000 bitcoins, worth approximately £569 million, which was mined by her ex-boyfriend James Howells in 2009.

In October 2024, Howells filed a $495 million lawsuit against the council, claiming they were preventing him from reclaiming his property.

Eddy-Evans expressed her hope that Howells finds the lost fortune to bring closure to the situation, stating she does not want any of the money.

Eddy-Evans took the hard drive to a landfill in Wales, mistakenly believing it was simply rubbish that she was asked to discard by Howells.

Despite repeated appeals for permission to excavate the landfill, Howells has been denied access due to environmental concerns and logistical challenges.