Nikolas Sargeant
A historic Welsh landfill site, famous for housing a lost hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin worth approximately $768 million, is scheduled to close in the 2025-26 financial year. According to BBC News, a Newport council spokesperson confirmed the site's impending closure, stating that they are working on a planned closure and capping process over the next two years.
From Waste to Watts: Newport's Solar Transformation
The landfill's notoriety stems from James Howells' story, where his former partner accidentally discarded a hard drive containing Bitcoin mined in 2009. Despite offering the council a share of the potential recovery and proposing AI-driven search methods, Howells' legal battle ended in January when a judge dismissed his case, citing "no realistic prospect" of success. The council has consistently rejected excavation proposals, citing environmental concerns. Looking forward, the site's transformation has already begun, with approval granted for a solar farm project in August.
Quantum Computing: A Future Key to Lost Crypto?
As the Newport saga concludes, attention turns to technological solutions for recovering lost cryptocurrency. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino suggests quantum computing could eventually unlock "lost wallets," though active Bitcoin holders would likely adopt quantum-resistant security measures. This discussion gains relevance as Chinese researchers claim breakthrough achievements in quantum-based encryption cracking, potentially affecting the estimated 3 million Bitcoin – approximately 13% of total supply – believed permanently lost.
