James Howells, the Welsh software engineer who accidentally lost a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin in 2013, is shifting strategies after years of failed attempts to recover it. The drive, buried in a Newport landfill, holds a fortune worth around $913 million at current prices and nearly $985 million at Bitcoin’s all-time high. Howells has repeatedly tried to secure permission from Newport City Council to excavate the site, offering over $30 million and exploring legal avenues. The council has consistently refused, citing environmental and logistical risks. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Howells announced on X that he is “done asking permission” and will instead tokenize the wallet. His plan involves creating 800 billion Ceiniog Coin (INI), a Bitcoin Layer 2 token linked to blockchain technologies like Stacks, Runes, and Ordinals. He told The Block that the project aims to power a fast, scalable, payment-focused web3 platform backed by the 8,000 BTC and secured by the Bitcoin blockchain. The saga began when his ex-girlfriend mistakenly threw away the drive, leading to over a decade of legal battles, public campaigns, and even appeals for help from President Donald Trump. Despite the setbacks, Howells says he is not giving up on reclaiming his fortune.