Today, a huge number of people have finally started to wonder what kind of beast this is - cryptocurrency? Someone got pecked by a fried rooster, and someone smarter - turned on their wits and began to explore opportunities for profit. And still others simply for the sake of broadening their horizons. Be that as it may, the reaction to this was the appearance of an increasing number of documentaries and feature films about cryptocurrency that explore the world of blockchain. Some of them are pure entertainment, but others... Others are still worth watching, regardless of whether you are a complete "noob" or already old and beaten by "bear" markets "oh". We have selected the best films about cryptocurrency.
A selection of films about cryptocurrency and blockchain
Yes, who knows, but “Bitcoin”, “cryptocurrency” and “blockchain” are the media’s favorite “beating boys”. Now not a day goes by without new news about record prices, historical highs or price fluctuations. And before? God, anything to shove this term in there and mix it with mud. And if before, people, with their ears hanging out, fainted from the number of zeros, funds stolen by hackers and clucked their tongues about the news of another “laundering” of millions using crypto assets, today they have become wiser.
It turns out that thefts occur due to the greed of exchanges that do not want to spend money on normal and high-quality security software, and money laundering using crypto is so insignificant compared to the dollar that there is nothing to talk about. But there is a plus in all this - free advertising! With the light hand of the mass media, crypto has become a global phenomenon. Even those who have nothing to do with them have heard about them. Even grandmothers argue at the entrance about which crypto is better to store their pension in. And that is why cryptocurrencies are increasingly becoming the topic of films and TV series.
For example, the word “bitcoin” was first mentioned by a goofy clown in the 25th episode of the popular series “The Simpsons” in 2013, remember? And the consequences? A long road to a global boom and the outrageous and not quite adequate antics of Elon Musk on Twitter, which caused a stir. A few weeks after “The Simpsons”, in January 2014, many viewers were reacquainted with Bitcoin. Do you know where? In the same cartoons! This term was mentioned in one of the episodes of the animated series “Family Guy”. This was seven years before its record growth and the impressive IPO of Coinbase.
Since then, things have come and gone. This topic has often appeared in such series as “Marry Me,” “Supernatural,” and “The Big Bang Theory,” and in the eleventh season of the series, an entire episode was dedicated to Bitcoin. So, the number of feature films, documentaries, and television films dedicated to digital currencies began to grow like mushrooms after the rain. We thought about it and collected for you the best films about cryptocurrency and series about Bitcoin.
Documentaries about cryptocurrency
1. "The Bitcoin Phenomenon" (2014)
This is a documentary that explains the arguments made in Satoshi Nakamoto’s first article about Bitcoin, which described it as “a digital currency or online payment system.” Creators, developers, investors, and detractors tell the story of how Bitcoin evolved from an anonymous, open-source idea to an asset for personal transactions in which central banks and governments have no real power.
2. "The Birth and Rise of Bitcoin" (2014)
Director Nicholas Cross has created a film that tells the story of how Bitcoin became a global phenomenon and one of the most talked-about topics of the digital age. These are just two of the questions that the film answers. It is one of the first documentaries dedicated to Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. The film, which is more than a decade old, still provides a good understanding of how blockchain technology works and what contributed to its growth in the initial stage. This is not least facilitated by interviews with important representatives (companies and individuals) of the industry, as well as animated sequences that show how a transaction works.
3. “Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It” (2015)
Torsten Hoffman explains the origins of money and the most important changes since its creation, showing how the financial scheme, which is run by banks and governments, works. In his documentary, Hoffman describes the advantages of using cryptocurrencies as a potential alternative to the traditional financial system. The film was made with money raised through a crowdfunding campaign, where he raised the necessary $10,000 from 116 supporters.
4. "Banking on Bitcoin" (2016)
This documentary directed by Christopher Kannuchcharis, released in 2016, will be of interest to anyone interested in the early stages of the digital currency and looking back in time. The documentary, which first aired on Netflix, traces the development of Bitcoin from 2008 to 2016 and is an interesting introduction, especially for newcomers and viewers who are not yet familiar with the topic. The film includes interviews with pioneers, crypto-masters and leading figures in the development phase. Among them are cryptologist David Chaum, considered the father of cryptocurrency, and software developer Gavin Andresen, a key figure in the development of Bitcoin.
5. Magic Money: The Bitcoin Revolution (2017)
This short documentary directed by Tim Delmastro, also dedicated to the origins of Bitcoin, offers the possibility of achieving a future in which every citizen will have complete control over the money they use, forgetting about the old rules imposed by traditional financial institutions.
6. "Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchain, and the Future of the Internet" (2020)
Directed by Torsten Hoffmann and Michael Vatsoulonis. Cryptocurrency hype is trending — Bitcoin, Ethereum & Co. in films and TV series. While the first mentioned documentaries focus on the early years of the crypto ecosystem, the film “Cryptopia”, presented at the Berlinale, tells the story of the developments in the last years of that time. Director Torsten Hoffmann gives a voice to those he calls “great minds” and tells the “who’s who” of the crypto scene.
Among others, the film features Australian computer scientist Craig Wright (the self-proclaimed Satoshi Nakamoto), Blockstream NGO representative Samson Moe, and Russian-Canadian software developer Vitalik Buterin. Buterin is credited as the co-founder of Ethereum, an open-source decentralized software platform based on blockchain technology, and the world's second-largest cryptoasset, ETH.
7. "Hodl" (2020)
“Hodl” is a short film about a young man whose life is turned upside down after receiving gifts from his uncle. But the peculiarity is that among the gifts are fishing rods, a deer-headed doll and 55,000 BTC, purchased in 2010. In three and a half minutes, the comedy film will show how carelessness can lead to the loss of a considerable amount of Bitcoin. This film won the award for best documentary at the Los Angeles Film Awards.
8. “Bitcoin, Blockchain, and Black Liberation” (2021)
BitcoinFilm.org and BitMari have produced a documentary film, “Bitcoin, Blockchain, and Black Liberation,” which tells the story of how women farmers in Zimbabwe have improved their lives through the AgriTech blockchain accelerator program for agriculture. Through a narrative aligned with the principles of “decolonize your life” and “break the chains of oppressive economic policies,” the film shows how cryptocurrencies are an alternative to the financial crisis in Zimbabwe, which has driven the migration of numerous communities seeking “better economic opportunities, education, and social security” to this day.
In addition to the functions of cryptocurrencies, this documentary shows how blockchain can positively impact economic sectors that have been oppressed by years of government policies that have brought little benefit to the population.
9. “Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King” (2022)
This crypto movie tells the story of Jerry Cotten, the founder of a cryptocurrency exchange, who mysteriously died, leaving thousands of investors who lost $250 million in his company. Jerry's unexpected death has spawned a host of conspiracy and detective theories that make this movie a perfect Sunday plan to watch and study at home.
Feature films about crypto and blockchain
10. "Doping" (2015)
The topic of Bitcoin also appears in the film "Dope". The script tells the story of black boys growing up in extremely difficult conditions. They receive a bag of drugs, which they try to sell online using Bitcoin transactions. The situation becomes dangerous when they come into contact with gangsters who use crypto as a tool for money laundering.
11. "The Bitcoin Heist" (2016)
It is impossible not to mention the 2016 Vietnamese blockbuster "The Bitcoin Heist". The plot tells the story of a young hacker who specializes in stealing cryptocurrencies. The main character is hired by Interpol to fight a famous hacker nicknamed "The Ghost". In this action-packed film, cryptocurrencies once again become a means of shadowy operations in the criminal world.
12. The Swindler (2019)
In the comedy "The Heist," a young billionaire becomes the object of interest of two women (Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson, known, among others, for the film "The Basement") who make a living by extorting money from wealthy men. It turns out that one billionaire keeps all his money in Bitcoin!
13. "Crypto" (2019)
Hollywood has also taken up the Bitcoin theme, with John Stuhlbarg Jr.’s crime thriller Crypto, starring Kurt Russell and Luke Hemsworth, among others. The film follows a young banker who is later hired as an agent and uncovers shady dealings in his hometown. Crypto experts and ecosystem enthusiasts won’t learn much from this entertaining film aimed squarely at the mass audience.
However, Crypto proves that history and plot elements related to digital currency can be skillfully integrated into a gripping, highly relevant story in a modern way. The film deals with high-risk crypto investments, digital currency trading, and corruption.
14. “Bitcoin Castle” (2020)
If you want to approach the complex subject of cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin in a careful and thoughtful way on an artistic level, Bruno Schiebel’s short film “Bitcoin Castle” is a good choice. Shot for the internet, it’s an entertaining 27-minute film that follows a wealthy crypto expert through his daily life. This includes fears of an impending financial collapse, as well as arguments with his wife. The film also tells the story of a planned conspiracy against Bitcoin, making it an interesting mix of crime thriller, (dark) comedy, and modern cryptographic observation.
Crypto TV series
15. "Startup" (2016 - 2018)
Ben Ketain's crime series "StartUp", in which Martin Freeman ("The Hobbit") plays one of the main roles. It is a story in which a banker, a programmer and a criminal launch a startup. It refers to two media topics and special events of the recent past: the rise of digital currencies and the flow of new startups. In other words, those young companies that are aimed at rapid growth from the very beginning and enter the market with innovative ideas. "StartUp" deliberately takes the topic of cryptocurrencies to extremes, looking gloomily into the future. A future in which the capabilities and applications of Bitcoin & Co. will be much more advanced. And in which highly developed computer programs and technologies are the basis for this.
16. "Mr. Robot" (2015- 2019)
The series "Mr. Robot" is the format that made actor Rami Malek ("Bohemian Rhapsody") famous all over the world. The series tells the story of a young IT security expert who suffers from dissociative identity disorder and anxiety disorder. He is recruited by a mysterious man named Mr. Robot to join an anarchist underground movement of hackers who pursue a daring goal: to destroy the world's financial system. "Mr. Robot" forces the viewer to take a critical look at the issues of digital identity and the fragility of our global economy. The multi-part hacking thriller also provides insight into the use of cryptocurrencies and makes fictitious digital money (e-coin) an important part of some storylines and episodes.
Conclusion
There are many other feature films and documentaries, but as you can see, most of the stories use the theme of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in general, pushing technological assets to the background. But this mostly applies to feature films, not documentaries. A good documentary, as in the selection, should contain expert opinions, real cases, explain different ways of investing and how easy it is to lose everything you have invested. And feature films should be interesting films about cryptocurrency. That's enough of them.
