Man Spends 17 Years Trying to Recover Lost Crypto

Man Spends 17 Years Trying to Recover Lost Crypto

It’s been over 17 years since James Howells lost his hard drive, but he has over one billion reasons to continue seeking it out. That’s because the hard drive Howells lost currently contains the irreplaceable keys to 8,000 bitcoins. While those bitcoins weren’t worth much back in 2009, they are now worth over $1 billion.

Unfortunately, Howells can’t regain access to those bitcoins until he gets the physical hard drive back. His keys are currently on that drive. The good news is that even if the hard drive has been damaged, there’s still a great chance that recovery services can retrieve the data.

Another good thing about Howells’ search is that he has a great idea of where the hard drive is likely located. Currently, he thinks that the hard drive is in a Wales landfill in the UK. He just doesn’t know the exact spot his hard drive was dropped off. Unfortunately, he’s never been able to get approval to search the landfill for his hard drive.

In 2025, a UK judge ordered Howells to cease and desist from his plans, citing environmental concerns.

Howells’ story is not a unique one. Recent statistics suggest that around 19% of the current Bitcoin supply, which is estimated to be around 3.7 million BTC, might never see circulation because they are lost or have been rendered permanently un-spendable. The main reason why these funds can’t be spent is that people have forgotten their private keys, destroyed storage devices, or abandoned their wallets. Another way that cryptocurrency can become permanently inaccessible is upon the death of the holder.

You can avoid falling into a similar situation by considering a custodial wallet. Unlike a wallet that you have full control over, a custodial wallet allows a licensed provider to manage the wallet for you. The biggest benefit of custodial wallets is that users have recovery options. Most custodial wallet providers offer options like password resets.

The biggest disadvantage to using a custodial wallet provider is that there is a chance that the platform could fail or act in unexpected ways. It’s up to the user to verify that they’re working with a trusted, reliable custodial wallet provider.

What Other Options Do You Have for Bitcoin or Cryptocurrency Recovery?

Have you ever lost cryptocurrency or access to your digital wallet? If so, then our team might be able to help. Here at Bitcoin Recovery Co., our team is made up of some of the world’s most elite ethical hackers and bar-certified lawyers with the Bukh Law Firm. Together, we can develop a legal, innovative strategy for recovering your lost Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, or wallet details.

So far, we’ve already helped recover over 2,000 Bitcoins for over 100 customers and resolved over 30 complex cases. Whether your cryptocurrency is lost due to a virus, deleted data, a lost hard drive, or another reason, we’ll work towards finding a solution.

To learn more about our services and how we can help you, schedule a free consultation with us. Get started by leaving your contact details on our online form.