## New Development in Saga of Lost £566 Million Bitcoin at Newport Landfill
A surprising and dramatic new chapter has unfolded in the ongoing saga of James Howells, the Newport man famously known for losing a fortune in Bitcoin, now worth more than £566 million, when an old hard drive ended up in a municipal rubbish dump over a decade ago. This unlikely tale, long followed by both Bitcoin enthusiasts and the wider public, has now captured the attention of television producers across the Atlantic.
James Howells first delved into the world of cryptocurrency in 2009, back when Bitcoin was in its infancy and largely unknown outside specialist internet forums. A computer aficionado, Howells was among the earliest miners, creating 8,000 Bitcoins on his home setup and storing the private key on a small 2.5-inch hard drive. Little did he know, that decision would set the stage for one of the most intriguing missing treasure stories of modern times.
The fateful turn came in 2013, when, in a simple case of mistaken identity, Howells’ hard drive found its way into the bin. It was thrown out by his then-partner, mixing it with normal household waste and consigning it to Newport’s Docksway landfill. At the time, Bitcoin’s value was a fraction of what it is today. Since then, however, the cryptocurrency’s astronomical rise has seen the lost trove soar in worth, eclipsing half a billion pounds.
Desperate to recover the life-changing sum, Howells has spent twelve years lobbying Newport Council for permission to excavate the landfill. After repeated refusals from the local authority, which cited strict environmental regulations and risk to the surrounding area, Howells recently pursued legal action. This culminated in a bid at the High Court—described by him as a “last resort”—which was, unfortunately for him, unsuccessful. The presiding judge dismissed his claim, finding it had no realistic prospect of success.
Despite this series of setbacks, the story has not lost its appeal—quite the contrary. In an unexpected twist, Los Angeles-based production company Lebul has announced it has secured the rights to adapt Howells’ saga into a multi-episode television drama. The series, which will bear the working title *The Buried Bitcoin: The Real-Life Treasure Hunt of James Howells*, is set to take a “tech thriller” approach to this modern odyssey, pitting one man’s dogged determination against a wall of bureaucracy and unforeseen practical difficulties.
Speaking on behalf of Lebul, Reese Van Allen described the project as “a live-action tech thriller with nearly a billion dollars on the line”, underscoring the real-world stakes and human drama at the heart of the tale. Aaron Criswell, who leads the scripted entertainment division at Lebul and has previously worked on Hollywood hits like *The Wolf of Wall Street*, brings considerable experience with gripping stories to the production.
James Howells himself has voiced his excitement at the developments, remarking that this is “a story the world is waiting to see.” For him, the television adaptation is a chance to share the emotional rollercoaster and draw attention to the unique predicament he still faces years after that one fateful oversight.
Newport Council, meanwhile, has stood firm on its stance against excavation, citing not just environmental reasons but the wider impact such a dig could have on the local community. Their concerns, echoed in court, reflect the ongoing tension between individual ambition and collective responsibility when it comes to handling precious, and potentially hazardous, waste sites.
The tale of James Howells is likely to provoke discussion about personal responsibility, the perils of the digital age, and, perhaps, the lengths to which people will go in search of lost fortune. As the forthcoming television series unfolds, viewers will have the opportunity to follow every setback, breakthrough, and twist in what promises to be one of the most compelling true stories of the cryptocurrency era.
Even as his chances of recovering the hardware dwindle, James Howells’ story seems certain to remain in the public eye, reminding us all of the unpredictable consequences of one small mistake—and the incredible stories that can emerge from modern life.