The decentralized nature of bitcoin, making it hard for authorities to control, is often cited as one of cryptocurrencies’ benefits – but there are exceptions, although usually less bizarre than this one.
A court ruled against a man Thursday who has been trying to force local government to allow him access to landfill to search for digital assets worth around $700 million. The fortune is on a hard drive that was tossed in the trash by his ex-partner a decade ago.
James Howells had 8,000 bitcoins stored and says a bag containing the hard drive was discarded by his ex by mistake, but despite the long time since the incident he says that he still owns the property and should be granted permission to retrieve it.
Growing interest in bitcoin from clients has seen a sharp increase in the share of advisors who are investing – or likely to invest – in the cryptocurrency.
Howells has even pledged to gift 10% of the fortune to the local area and to bear all the costs of the excavation using a professional team. He lives in Newport, UK, and says the donation would turn the area into the “Las Vegas” of South Wales.
The court action sought access to the landfill or around $615 million in compensation.
"I am either entitled to recover the property at full cost to myself or if the landowner refuses they it they pay me the value of my property,” Howells told Talker News.
Bitcoin has surged in value in recent months - nearing the $100,000 mark as the largest digital asset regains momentum with Donald Trump heading to the White House - and Howell’s 8,000 coins could be worth $1 billion in 2025 if the upward trajectory continues. With the stakes so high, he intends to take his case to the UK’s Supreme Court.
But the local council says the claim has no merit and access will not be granted: "The council has told Mr. Howells multiple times that excavation is not possible under our environmental permit, and that work of that nature would have a huge negative environmental impact on the surrounding area,” Newport City Council said.
From 401(k)s to retail funds, Deloitte sees private equity and credit crossing into mainstream investing on two fronts at once.
Big-name defections from Morgan Stanley, UBS, and Merrill Lynch headline a busy two weeks of recruiting for the wirehouse.
Markets have always been unpredictable. What has changed is the amount of information investors are trying to process and the growing role advisors play in helping clients avoid emotional decisions
Six apartment deals, one "big account," and $2.7M in undocumented insider loans. Now the lawsuit lands
The Illinois order refers to Brandon Ellington’s investment program as a “Ponzi-like scheme.”
Wellington explores how multi strategy hedge funds may enhance diversification
As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management
