James Howells, who lost the legal bid to retrieve his $800 million Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) fortune, has now turned to Donald Trump for help, expressing hopes for intervention from the U.S. President-elect, according to a Wednesday report.
What Happened: Howells acknowledged that his chances of recovery are slim after a judge dismissed his request to excavate the landfill that has the discarded hard drive containing 8,000 BTC, as reported by the New York Post.
"It feels like the end of the world for me. I am now stuck with it and can not escape it. I am stuck with it for life, ” he was quoted as saying.
The Wales-based software engineer sought permission from the Newport City Council to excavate the site to recover it, but the court rejected the plea, citing environmental concerns with excavation.
“Maybe Donald Trump could help make something happen. I would certainly cut Trump in on the deal if he could help,” Howells said.
While he admitted to being half-joking, he expressed a genuine desire for any assistance to resolve the situation, saying, “I am appealing to him and anyone else who can help sort this madness.”
See Also: Italy’s Largest Bank Leaps Into Bitcoin Trading With $1 Million ‘Test’ Investment But CEO Says He Doesn’t Invest In BTC Personally
Why It Matters: The incident dates back to 2013 when Howells unintentionally put a hard drive containing 8,000 BTCs in the trash while cleaning his office.
It was later revealed that his ex-girlfriend threw the fortune away after Howells asked her to dispose of some "unwanted belongings" in a black sack, which, unknown to both of them, included the hard drive.
The 8,000 Bitcoins would be worth $865 million at the all-time high price of $108,135 and $798.6 million at the current market price of $99,824.88.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
