In a notable development, a landfill site in Wales, known to potentially contain a discarded hard drive with 8,000 Bitcoins, is slated to be transformed into a solar farm. BBC News reports that the landfill is expected to shut down in the fiscal year 2025-26, after which it will be sealed off. The site has already received approval to establish a solar farm once it has been capped. Despite these plans, the individual who accidentally threw away the Bitcoin-loaded hard drive expressed his astonishment and has suggested purchasing the landfill in its current state.

We previously covered this story in January, discussing the unfortunate fate of a digital fortune now valued at over $780 million. It seemed like the saga had reached its conclusion following a high court decision that seemed to quash the hopes of James Howells, the former cryptocurrency miner, of retrieving his hard drive or receiving any monetary compensation.

Yet, the narrative takes a turn with the landfill’s upcoming conversion to a solar farm, symbolically offsetting some of the energy consumed by cryptocurrency mining. In an unexpected twist, Howells has made an offer to acquire the landfill, aiming to excavate and retrieve the lost hard drive and its valuable contents.

Howells was taken aback by the news of the imminent closure of the landfill. “Should the Newport city council be open to the idea, I would be interested in buying the landfill site ‘as is,'” he stated, hopeful about the prospect. He mentioned that he has already discussed this potential buyout with his investment partners, indicating that this option is actively being considered.

Earlier reports suggest that Howells and his team are prepared to invest around $13 million in an excavation that could last up to 36 months to unearth the hard drive. It’s likely that purchasing the site outright might involve even greater expenditures. Such a purchase could also alleviate the financial burden on the council associated with capping the landfill, which involves layering aggregates, barriers, and pipework to safely cover the vast waste site.

According to the BBC, the Newport Council obtained planning permission last August to develop a solar farm on a portion of the site. The anticipated solar energy is intended to power the council’s fleet of electric garbage trucks. Newport, which already operates seven electric trucks, plans to gradually replace diesel trucks in the coming years. The local household recycling center will continue its operations nearby.

Keeping a Bitcoin wallet on a portable hard drive in a desk might seem like a safe choice barring any catastrophic events. However, entrusting your cryptocurrency to third parties, whether individuals, companies, or other entities, poses risks. Throughout the relatively brief history of cryptocurrencies, numerous investors have lost vast fortunes due to hacks and the collapse of major exchanges and platforms, including Ronin Network, Binance BNB Bridge, FTX, and the notorious Mt. Gox.