British IT professional James Howells, known for his accidental loss of 8,000 Bitcoins over a decade ago, has unveiled plans for Ceiniog Coin—a new digital currency designed to integrate directly with Bitcoin’s blockchain.
The project will utilize Bitcoin’s OP_RETURN function alongside protocols including Stacks, Runes, and Ordinals to expand the network’s functionality. This integration aims to introduce advanced features such as smart contract capabilities to Bitcoin’s ecosystem.
Ceiniog Coin currently lacks confirmed institutional funding or Initial Coin Offering plans, raising questions about its financial backing and potential market impact. Technical challenges regarding scalability and security stemming from Bitcoin integration remain significant hurdles for the project.
The late 2025 launch represents Howells’ renewed effort to innovate within cryptocurrency despite his prominent past setback, positioning Ceiniog Coin as an experimental extension of Bitcoin’s infrastructure.