A Londoner’s years-long quest for an $800 million Bitcoin-containing arduous drive hidden someplace in a Welsh landfill has now been licensed right into a cross-platform documentary collection.
Leisure firm LEBUL introduced this week that it has secured unique rights to inform the story of James Howells, the British engineer recognized for shedding entry to eight,000 Bitcoin again in 2013.
Man’s Misplaced Exhausting Drive Holds Crypto Fortunes Price A King’s Ransom
Howells, a kind of who mined Bitcoin in its early years, misplaced entry to eight,000 Bitcoin in 2013 when his arduous drive was mistakenly discarded. At present costs, that cryptocurrency hoard is price over $800 million.
The arduous drive ended up in a municipal landfill in Newport, Wales, the place it nonetheless sits despite Howells’ quite a few efforts to reclaim it.
“This isn’t content material,” declared Reese Van Allen, Unscripted Leisure President at LEBUL. “It’s a live-action tech thriller with virtually a billion {dollars} at stake.”
The documentary initiative, “The Buried Bitcoin: The Actual-Life Treasure Hunt of James Howells,” will characteristic a high-end collection, podcast, and social media push. LEBUL intends to mix elements of environmental strife, cryptocurrency historical past, and particular person resolve of their narrative.
Authorized Fights Ongoing With Native Council
Howells has taken Newport Metropolis Council to court docket a number of occasions over the past decade. He’s requested for permission to excavate the landfill and even proposed dividing any cash recovered with each the town and residents. At one time, he requested native officers for £495 million in compensation.
He has repeatedly misplaced in court docket over his protests on grounds of concern for injury to the atmosphere in addition to land legal guidelines. He misplaced lately in 2025 in Cardiff Excessive Courtroom, in line with reviews.
It’s extra of a urgent want because the council will shut the dump within the 12 months 2025-2026 and construct a part of it as a photo voltaic farm.
Engineer Refuses To Give Up Search
Regardless of persistent setbacks, Howells is set to recuperate his misplaced fortune. As reported, he’s mulling an enchantment to the Supreme Courtroom. He has additionally intimated that he could try to buy the entire landfill property to get entry to the placement.
“Howells’ story, at occasions likened to a recent treasure hunt, will now discover its option to extra individuals as LEBUL turns a bit of discarded e-waste into leisure,” mentioned one report on the brand new collection.
Leisure Challenge Generates Enormous Curiosity
The documentary collection has already piqued the curiosity of worldwide streaming channels wanting to distribute the content material. Some cryptocurrency companies have additionally proven curiosity in sponsoring the challenge, mentioned LEBUL.
LEBUL executives are assured that the mix of real-life drama, important monetary stakes, and real-time developments will make the collection engaging to each cryptocurrency followers and common audiences who aren’t accustomed to Bitcoin’s early days.
The agency has but to announce a launch date for any element of the challenge.
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