#UK court halts treasure hunt plan#
Hot Topic Overview
Overview
A UK court has dismissed an application by IT engineer James Howells to search a landfill for a hard drive containing $735 million worth of Bitcoin, citing excessive environmental risks. Howells accidentally discarded the hard drive containing the Bitcoin in 2013 and has been trying to persuade Newport City Council to allow him access to the landfill. The judge ruled that the case had "no realistic prospect of success" at trial and dismissed the application. The incident has once again raised concerns about the security of digital assets and environmental protection.
Ace Hot Topic Analysis
Analysis
A UK court has rejected IT engineer James Howells' application to search a Newport landfill for a hard drive containing $735 million worth of Bitcoin. Howells accidentally discarded the hard drive containing the Bitcoin in 2013 and hoped to recover it by excavating the landfill. However, the court deemed the plan to pose significant environmental risks and to have "no realistic prospect of success" at trial. Newport City Council has consistently refused access to the landfill, citing potential environmental contamination and safety hazards from excavation. Judge Keyser KC ruled that Howells' application lacked legal basis and that the cost and risk of the excavation far outweighed the potential reward. As a result, the court ultimately halted the treasure hunt.
Public Sentiment · Discussion Word Cloud
Public Sentiment
Discussion Word Cloud
Classic Views
Finding the Bitcoin hard drive poses environmental risks, and the court believes the case has no realistic chance of success.
Newport City Council refused to enter the landfill to search because it would cause environmental damage.
The cost of finding the Bitcoin hard drive is too high, and the success rate is extremely low, making it not worthwhile.
James Howells' plan to find the Bitcoin hard drive lacks legal basis, and the court dismissed his application.