Bro finally accepted it

Man Who Lost $742 Million in Bitcoin Finally Ends 12-Year Search

After more than a decade of searching, the man who famously lost access to a Bitcoin fortune worth approximately $742 million has officially stopped trying to recover it.

James Howells, an IT engineer from the UK, accidentally threw away a hard drive in 2013 that contained the private keys to around 8,000 Bitcoins. At the time, the cryptocurrency was worth very little. Years later, as Bitcoin’s value skyrocketed, the hard drive became one of the most expensive pieces of lost data in history.

For over 12 years, Howells launched multiple campaigns to retrieve the drive from a landfill site in Newport, Wales. He proposed advanced recovery plans involving AI scanning, robotic digging systems, and even offered to share profits with the local government. However, authorities repeatedly denied permission, citing environmental risks and legal barriers.

Now, in 2026, Howells has confirmed that he is officially ending the search.

“I’ve accepted that it’s gone forever,” he said in a recent statement. “At some point, you have to move on.”

The lost Bitcoin is believed to be permanently inaccessible, making it one of the largest known lost crypto fortunes ever. Experts estimate that 3–4 million Bitcoins are already lost forever due to forgotten passwords, destroyed wallets, and discarded hardware.

The story has become a legendary warning in the crypto world about one simple lesson:

Not your keys, not your coins — and never throw away a hard drive.