#UK court halts treasure hunt plan#

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 has been trying to persuade Newport City Council to allow him access to the landfill to excavate. However, Judge Keyser KC ruled that the plan posed significant environmental risks and had "no realistic prospect of success" at trial. The judge noted that even if Howells found the hard drive, there was no guarantee it would still be functional, and the excavation process would cause irreversible damage to the environment. Newport City Council has consistently refused Howells' requests, citing safety concerns for local residents and the potential disruption to the landfill's stability. Although Howells offered to cover all excavation costs and implement necessary safety measures, the court ultimately sided with environmental protection and public safety, denying his application.