Part of the CustodyStress archive of observed Bitcoin custody incidents
CS-00030
James Howells, an IT worker from Newport, Wales, accidentally discarded a hard drive
BlockedCase description
In November 2013 James Howells, an IT worker from Newport, Wales, accidentally discarded a hard drive containing 8,000 BTC he had mined in 2009. The drive was disposed of with household waste and deposited in a Newport landfill. Despite multiple subsequent recovery attempts, Newport City Council has refused excavation. The BTC remains unrecovered.
Custody context
| Stress condition | Device loss |
| Custody system | Mobile or software wallet |
| Outcome | Blocked |
| Documentation | Unknown |
| Year observed | 2013 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
Structural dependencies observed
What this illustrates
The wallet existed only on that device. When the device became inaccessible, there was no other way back in. Access was not recoverable.
Outcome interpretation
Access was not possible under the reported conditions.
Source
Publicly Reported
Evidence type
News article
Related cases involving device loss
This archive documents observed custody survivability failures. It does not attempt to document all Bitcoin losses or security incidents.
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Framework references
Where Bitcoin Custody Intersects Legal and Fiduciary Authority
Where custody creates gaps in estate planning, fiduciary duty, and professional responsibility.
Professional Scope Boundary Matrix
What each professional or product covers, what they do not, and where gaps form between them.
The Independent Assessment Layer in Bitcoin Custody
How independent diagnostic layers emerge when multiple parties depend on shared infrastructure.
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