James Howells, who mined 8,000 Bitcoin in 2009, lost his hard drive, containing the keys over a decade ago. His lost claim for excavation to recover the hard drive, worth 676 million USD today, was denied by the UK Court of Appeals.

Despite the unsuccessful appeal, Howells intends to take his case to the European Courts of Human Rights while expressing frustration about the UK’s judicial system. He continues his struggle to retrieve what could be life-changing assets.

Bitcoin has seen a dramatic increase in value, trading at 84,500 USD, more than 7000% higher than its worth when Howells lost his hard drive in 2013. Time is pressing, as the landfill is expected to close in the fiscal year 2025-26.