Garrett Patten and Adrien Grenier are moving forward with a television adaptation of “Self Custody,” the Bitcoin-inspired short film that earned top honors at the Dubai Film Festival, Hollywood Short Fest for Best Produced, and WorldFest Houston. The project connected with audiences far beyond the crypto world, and now the team is betting that the story has the legs for a full series run.
‘Self Custody’ Gains Major Momentum In Las Vegas
The short film that made waves on the festival circuit is officially heading to the small screen. “‘Self Custody’ has also had a strong run, winning at the Dubai Film Festival, Hollywood Short Fest for Best Produced, and WorldFest Houston,” Patten told The Blast. “It’s been amazing to see how that project connected with audiences.”
The announcement gained real momentum at the Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, where Patten, Grenier, and their new producing partner Mike Germano appeared together and drew strong interest from web3 investors hungry to see the project expanded. The reception confirmed what the festival circuit already signaled: there is a real appetite for a Bitcoin-native story told at a prestige level.
Inside The Story Behind ‘Self Custody’
The official synopsis for “Self Custody” reads:
“When a struggling father discovers he unknowingly received a Bitcoin bonus back in 2014–now worth millions–his desperate attempt to reclaim the lost fortune sends him spiraling into a high-stakes world of encrypted wallets, forgotten passwords, and dark web danger. With time running out and his family on the line, he must outsmart hackers, trace digital breadcrumbs, and confront secrets buried in his past. Starring Odette Annable, Michael Monks, Garrett Patten, and Olympic champion Henry Cejudo, self Custody is a gripping suspense thriller about redemption, technology, and the price of lost access.”
The Producer Bringing Big Media Credentials To ‘Self Custody’
Mike Germano brings a resume that spans the full arc of digital media. He founded Carrot Creative, one of the earliest social media agencies, building content strategies for brands including Red Bull, Rolex, MTV, Netflix, and Rick & Morty before the company was acquired by Vice Media.
At Vice, he served as Chief Digital Officer and helped push the company past 1 billion monthly views across platforms. During the pandemic, he co-created and produced “Some Good News” alongside John Krasinski, the feel-good series that became a genuine viral phenomenon.
Mike Germano Helped Shape Bitcoin’s Mainstream Rise
His path into the Bitcoin world came through Bitcoin Magazine, where Germano served as President during a significant period of mainstream expansion for the brand. He relaunched the publication’s iconic print edition, led major editorial and investigative reporting initiatives, and executive-produced the Bitcoin Conference livestreams from 2022 through 2024, which became the most-watched live broadcasts in Bitcoin industry history. He also executive-produced coverage of the Norwegian court proceedings surrounding Craig Wright’s disputed claims of being Satoshi Nakamoto.
Mike Germano now leads The Bitcoin Marketing Department, an advisory firm working with leading Bitcoin media and technology companies on storytelling, audience growth, brand strategy, and cultural impact.
Hollywood And Bitcoin Are Betting Big On ‘Self Custody’
With festival accolades already under its belt and growing momentum from both Hollywood and Bitcoin circles, “Self Custody” appears poised for a much bigger spotlight.
Backed by Patten, Grenier, and veteran media executive Mike Germano, the project is emerging as one of the more ambitious attempts to bring a Bitcoin-native story into mainstream entertainment. Patten’s creative vision, Grenier’s Hollywood profile, and Mike Germano’s deep ties across both legacy media and the Bitcoin ecosystem have positioned the thriller as a serious contender for prestige television.
While details surrounding a network partner and distribution remain under wraps, the buzz coming out of the festival circuit and Bitcoin Conference suggests this may only be the beginning for “Self Custody”’s next chapter on the small screen, with industry attention continuing to grow around the ambitious project.