💰 After 12 Years, the Man Who Lost $742M in Bitcoin Gets a Surprising Ending

The story of James Howells isn't over just yet


Back in 2013, James Howells, an IT specialist from Newport, UK, accidentally threw away an old hard drive. It wasn’t just any drive—it contained the private keys to a wallet holding 8,000 Bitcoins, worth roughly $8 million at the time.

Fast forward to 2025, and those same coins would now be worth a jaw-dropping $742 million. Realizing the magnitude of the loss, Howells launched a relentless mission to recover the hard drive from a local landfill—complete with drones, AI scanning, and robotic diggers.

But his plans hit a wall. đŸš«

Local authorities rejected the operation, citing environmental risks—including potential toxic gas releases and soil contamination. British law also complicated things: anything discarded in a landfill becomes property of the site. Courts ultimately ruled against excavation, arguing the drive likely deteriorated beyond recovery.

Just when the story seemed over, it took an unexpected twist.

🎬 A Los Angeles-based production company has acquired the rights to turn James’ saga into a documentary series, podcast, and short-form videos, all under the title:

“The Buried Bitcoin: The Real-Life Treasure Hunt of James Howells.”

Now, instead of digging through a landfill, Howells is telling his story to the world. “This project is a way to show my journey and inspire others,” he shared. “And no—I haven’t given up.”

---

🔍 Moral of the story?

In crypto and in life, one lost file can cost a fortune—but persistence and storytelling might just turn loss into legacy.

đŸŽ„ Would you watch The Buried Bitcoin?

$BTC

$ETH

$BNB

#BigTechStablecoin #TrumpVsMusk #JamesHowells #TrumpTariffs #SaylorBTCPurchase