The rise of cryptocurrencies has not only disrupted the financial landscape but also influenced the entertainment industry. In recent years, movies and TV series have begun to weave blockchain technology and cryptocurrency into their storylines. From cybercrime thrillers to explorations of blockchain's potential, these media representations offer a glimpse into how cryptocurrencies are understood – or misunderstood – by the general public. This article delves into notable films and television series that feature cryptocurrencies, as well as analyses how these stories align with or diverge from real life.

Top crypto films and TV series for your entertainment and education

Documentaries about blockchain and cryptocurrencies

If you are looking for films that are useful from an educational point of view, the following documentaries are worth checking out.

The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)

• Director: Nicholas Mross
• Release date: 10 October 2014
• Countries of origin: USA, Panama, Japan, Canada

One of the earliest documentaries to cover Bitcoin in detail, The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin chronicles the rapid ascent of the cryptocurrency from its early days in niche forums to its increasing acceptance by the wider public. The film follows computer programmer Daniel Mross, who became an early Bitcoin enthusiast, documenting key moments in the cryptocurrency's rise. The documentary features interviews with early adopters, miners, and developers, providing insight into the community's optimism and the hurdles Bitcoin faced.

Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (2015)

• Director: Torsten Hoffmann, Michael Watchulonis
• Release date: 14 July 2015
• Countries of origin: Australia, Canada, USA, UK

Bitcoin: The End of Money As We Know It is a documentary that explores the history of money and the rise of Bitcoin as a revolutionary alternative to traditional currencies. The film examines the weaknesses of fiat money systems, such as inflation and centralisation, and contrasts them with Bitcoin's decentralised, deflationary model. It explains how Bitcoin's blockchain technology works and explores the potential for cryptocurrencies to disrupt the financial sector.

Banking on Bitcoin (2016)

• Director: Christopher Cannucciari
• Release date: 2015
• Country of origin: USA

Another prominent documentary about cryptocurrency, Banking on Bitcoin, delves into the history and development of Bitcoin, focusing on its potential to disrupt traditional financial systems. The film covers both the excitement and the controversies surrounding Bitcoin. Through interviews with pioneers, experts, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts, the film explores the ideological divide between Bitcoin supporters who see it as a tool for financial freedom and those who warn of its potential misuse.

The Blockchain and Us (2017)

• Director: Manuel Stagars
• Release date: 4 April 2017
• Country of origin: Switzerland

The Blockchain and Us, directed by Manuel Stagars, is a short yet impactful documentary that explores the broader implications of blockchain technology beyond just cryptocurrencies. The film focuses on the transformative potential of blockchain, emphasising that its applications go far beyond Bitcoin. The documentary is particularly effective in presenting blockchain as a technological paradigm shift, much like the internet. Through interviews with blockchain pioneers, entrepreneurs, and researchers from around the world, the film provides a global perspective on how blockchain is influencing various industries.

Blockchain City (2018)

• Director: Ian Khan
• Release date: 2018
• Country of origin: Canada

The documentary examines how governments and cities around the world are exploring blockchain solutions to improve governance, reduce corruption, and streamline processes. With interviews from blockchain experts, Blockchain City illustrates the transformative potential of this technology in creating more transparent and efficient systems.

Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018)

• Director: Alex Winter
• Release date: 26 October 2018
• Country of origin: USA

Trust Machine is positioned by its creators as the first blockchain-funded, blockchain-distributed and blockchain-focused documentary. Narrated by Rosario Dawson, this film is a documentary that tells about the evolution of blockchain technology, explaining its use cases and why it has become such a disruptive force. The film explores how blockchain is being applied in various areas and highlights the challenges blockchain faces while providing a balanced view of its future.

Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains and the Future of the Internet (2020)

• Director: Torsten Hoffmann, Michael Watchulonis
• Release date: 7 May 2020
• Countries of origin: Australia, USA, Germany

Cryptopia takes a broader approach by exploring not only Bitcoin but also other blockchain projects and blockchain technology as a whole. The documentary focuses on the ideological clashes within the crypto community and the technology's disruptive potential. By interviewing major figures like Vitalik Buterin and Andreas Antonopoulos, Cryptopia provides insights into the motivations of those shaping the future of the internet through decentralised networks.

Banking on Africa: The Bitcoin Revolution (2020)

• Director: Tamarin Gerriety
• Release date: 22 May 2020
• Country of origin: UK

Banking on Africa: The Bitcoin Revolution highlights the growing influence of Bitcoin in Africa. The documentary focuses on how Bitcoin is providing financial opportunities to people in countries with unstable economies and limited access to traditional banking services. The documentary emphasises Bitcoin's role as a tool for financial inclusion, particularly in regions where hyperinflation, corruption, and limited banking infrastructure create barriers to economic participation.

Bitconned (2024)

• Director: Bryan Storkel
• Release date: 1 January 2024
• Country of origin: USA

Bitconned is a crypto documentary from Netflix that reveals the real story behind the Centra Tech crypto scam, which took place in the late 2010s. This can be described as the crypto scam film, and it offers an interesting look at the dark side of the cryptocurrency world.

What the Punk! (2024)

• Director: Hervé Martin-Delpierre
• Release date: 17 March 2024
• Country of origin: France

What the Punk! offers an exploration of the origins of the CryptoPunks NFT collection and its role in shaping the NFT-art market. Directed with a focus on the cultural and artistic implications of blockchain rather than its technical details, the film tells the story of Matt Hall and John Watkinson, who inadvertently found themselves at the centre of a massive speculative frenzy. The film goes beyond just a success story, examining both the support and criticism surrounding the rise of NFTs.

Movies about cryptocurrency

As cryptocurrencies have gained visibility in the real world, their presence in popular culture, particularly in films, has grown. Several movies have woven digital currencies into their storylines, often reflecting the intrigue, risk, and complexity that cryptocurrencies represent. Here's the selection of the most notable movies about crypto.

Dope (2015)

• Director: Rick Famuyiwa
• Release date: 19 June 2015
• Country of origin: USA

While not exactly a crypto movie, Dope is one of the earliest films to prominently feature Bitcoin as part of its storyline. The coming-of-age comedy-drama follows Malcolm, a teenager from a rough neighbourhood, as he navigates his way through high school. The plot takes a turn when Malcolm and his friends become inadvertently involved in drug dealing. They use Bitcoin to sell drugs on the dark web. The film's use of Bitcoin reflects the public perception of cryptocurrencies at the time when they were frequently linked to underground markets and questionable legality.

Bitcoin Heist (2017)

• Director: Ham Tran
• Release date: 6 June 2017
• Country of origin: Vietnam

Bitcoin Heist is a Vietnamese action-thriller that centres on a group of hackers and criminals who are trying to steal millions in Bitcoin from a notorious criminal mastermind. The film blends traditional heist elements with the modern digital world of cryptocurrencies. The plot revolves around the challenges of securing and transferring Bitcoin, as the characters use both traditional methods and high-tech strategies to pull off the theft.

Crypto (2019)

• Director: John Stalberg Jr.
• Release date: 12 April 2019
• Country of origin: USA

Crypto is one of the few feature-length films that centres its entire plot around the world of cryptocurrencies. This crime thriller follows Martin, a young anti-money laundering agent, who is investigating a complex web of financial corruption involving cryptocurrency. The movie touches on topics such as blockchain technology, money laundering, and the tension between traditional banking institutions and the emerging crypto market, though the portrayal is somewhat exaggerated for dramatic effect. Special mention should be made of the cast, which includes Kurt Russell and Luke Hemsworth.

Silk Road (2021)

• Director: Tiller Russell
• Release date: 19 February 2021
• Country of origin: USA

Silk Road dramatises the true story of Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the infamous online black market Silk Road, which facilitated anonymous transactions primarily using Bitcoin. The film follows Ulbricht's journey from an idealist to a controversial figure whose creation gave a boost to the use of cryptocurrencies for illicit purposes.

TV series featuring crypto

Crypto is mentioned not only in documentaries and movies. Some TV shows also use cryptocurrencies as plot devices. Let's take a look at the most notable ones that incorporated crypto into their story.

How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)

• Creators: Philipp Kässbohrer, Matthias Murmann
• Release date: 2019
• Country of origin: Germany

How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) is a German coming-of-age series that revolves around two high school students who start an online drug business to win back popularity and, in the process, become major players in the European drug trade. In the show, Bitcoin plays a central role as the primary means of conducting anonymous transactions on the dark web.

Mr. Robot

• Creator: Sam Esmail
• Release date: 2015-2019
• Country of origin: USA

Mr. Robot, created by Sam Esmail, is one of the most significant TV shows that has delved into the world of cryptocurrency. The series follows Elliot Alderson, a cybersecurity engineer and hacker, as he becomes entangled in a plot to take down the world's largest corporation. Cryptocurrencies play an important role in the show's depiction of a dystopian financial future.

StartUp

• Creator: Ben Ketai
• Release date: 2016-2018
• Country of origin: USA

StartUp, a crime drama series, explores the intersection of technology, crime, and entrepreneurship. The show follows the creation of "GenCoin", a fictional cryptocurrency that aims to revolutionise the financial world by providing financial services to the unbanked. The storyline weaves together the ambitions of tech entrepreneurs, corrupt FBI agents, and organised crime, highlighting both the promise and peril of cryptocurrency technology.

The Good Wife

• Creators: Michelle King, Robert King
• Release date: 2009-2016
• Country of origin: USA

While The Good Wife is primarily a legal and political drama, it became one of the first mainstream TV shows to feature Bitcoin in its storyline. In the episode "Bitcoin for Dummies" (Season 3, Episode 13), the show explores the legal implications of Bitcoin when Alicia Florrick, a lawyer, represents a client who is in a legal dispute relating to cryptocurrency.

The Big Bang Theory

• Creators: Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady
• Release date: 2007-2019
• Country of origin: USA

In The Big Bang Theory Season 11, Episode 9, titled "The Bitcoin Entanglement", cryptocurrencies take centre stage as the group of friends recalls mining Bitcoin several years earlier. The episode revolves around their attempt to retrieve a lost Bitcoin wallet that has significantly increased in value over time. Sheldon, Leonard, Raj, and Howard recount their early exploration of Bitcoin, illustrating the initial scepticism and confusion surrounding the cryptocurrency when it first emerged. The episode also does a good job of showing the importance of storing cryptocurrency properly and why so many early mined bitcoins are gone forever.

Realism vs fiction: how cryptocurrencies are portrayed

As cryptocurrencies have made their way into the realms of film and television, their portrayals often oscillate between accurate representations and exaggerated depictions. Some films and TV shows make an effort to depict cryptocurrencies with a degree of technical and financial accuracy, often consulting experts or drawing on real-life scenarios. These portrayals help demystify the technology for viewers while offering a glimpse into its practical applications.

On the other hand, many crypto-themed movies and TV series take creative liberties with the technology and its implications, often exaggerating or misrepresenting key aspects of cryptocurrencies for dramatic effect.

Certainly, films and TV shows that depict cryptocurrencies, even in exaggerated forms, have contributed to sparking interest in the technology. As a result, some viewers are inspired to learn more, research real-world applications, and explore investment opportunities.

On the flip side, media portrayals that emphasise crime and fraud, such as Crypto and Silk Road, can reinforce negative stereotypes about cryptocurrencies. These depictions contribute to the perception that digital currencies are primarily tools for illegal activity rather than legitimate financial innovations. While cryptocurrencies can be involved in illegal activities, research shows that their use for illicit purposes constitutes only a minuscule fraction of their total transactions.

Exaggerated portrayals can also lead to misconceptions about how cryptocurrencies work. Shows that emphasise the speculative nature of cryptocurrencies can make viewers believe that the crypto market is primarily driven by hype, with little real value or application.

Ultimately, as cryptocurrencies become more integrated into daily life and the global financial system, media portrayals will likely continue to evolve. Viewers will benefit from more realistic representations that reflect both the revolutionary aspects of cryptocurrencies and the practical realities of their implementation.