Cryptocurrency has gone from niche technology to mainstream financial phenomenon, and alongside it has come a whole slew of movies, documentaries, and television shows. Whether you’re in the mood for an informative Bitcoin documentary, an action-filled cryptocurrency crime thriller, or a glimpse into blockchain’s potential future, there’s something for everyone.
20 Best cryptocurrency movies
19. The Good Wife, Bitcoin for Dummies
While this entry on the list is not a movie, Season 3 Episode 13 of The Good Wife was heavily focused on Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. The TV series itself follows a protagonist called Alicia Florrick, who is a legal defense attorney in Chicago, United States.
The episode that makes this list is titled Bitcoin for Dummies. The plot revolves around a client who is in a legal dispute relating to Bitcoin, and Alicia has to navigate the complexities of digital assets and the legal implications surrounding their use. Overall, Bitcoin for Dummies is thought to have provided a positive review of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency while still exploring the challenges of how crypto fits into the traditional legal system.
18. The Big Short
The Big Short doesn’t mention crypto or Bitcoin once, so you won’t learn anything about how the technology works. What you will see is a compelling case for why our currency economic system is broken and needs replacing; in that way the Big Short is bullish Bitcoin.
Based on a book by multi-award winning author, Michael Lewis, the Big Short charts the 2008 Financial Crisis through the few people who saw the storm coming. Through their experiences it peels back the superifcial veneer of the financial system to expose the rot inside.
It isn’t anywhere near as boring as it may sound, and features a host of top Hollywood stars including Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt and Christian Bale. If you bought the dip you’ll associate with some of the characters from the Big Short.
17. Dope
Dope is a coming-of-age comedy-drama film released in 2015. The story revolves around Malcolm Adekanbi, a high school student and self-professed geek living in a tough neighborhood in Inglewood, California. Malcolm, along with his friends Jib and Diggy, is passionate about ’90s hip-hop culture and academic pursuits.
While the movie is not specifically about cryptocurrency, it incorporates Bitcoin as a plot point. In an attempt to unload the drugs and escape their predicament, the characters use Bitcoin for a transaction, highlighting the digital currency’s role in the contemporary world.
16. The Bitcoin Gospel
Featuring Roger Ver, early and enthusiastic Bitcoin adopter, The Bitcoin Gospel centers around Bitcoin’s prospects of upending conventional finance. It discusses Bitcoin’s libertarian roots, governmental resistance, and why Bitcoin is considered by some to be a menace to the traditional financial system. It’s a great choice for newcomers to Bitcoin philosophy and adoption problems.
15. Banking On Bitcoin
Having directed Disney’s Enchanted, Christopher Cannucciari, may not seem like the obvious choice for a documentary looking at the impact that Bitcoin will have on the financial world, but he does a great job without an animated character in sight.
As from the title, this documentary is about Bitcoin, rather than the broader crypto ecosystem, but having been made in 2016 that shouldn’t be a surprise, with much of what dominates the cryptosphere yet to even exist.
Cannucciari seems to have caught the Bitcoin bug as, according to IMDB, he is directing a yet-to-be released documentary – The Search for Satoshi.
14. The Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain
Don’t be put off by the fact that this documentary is directed by one half of the Wyld Stallions. Aside from playing the part of one of the most famous slackers (Bill from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure) Alex Winter pursued a career behind the camera, making several well-received documentaries including this ‘The Trust Machine – The Story of Blockchain’.
The documentary was released in 2018 and has a level of production value that is missing from many of the films about crypto up to that point in time. This is evident from the balance between explaining the roots of blockchain, what a blockchain is and does, as well as its future implications via real-world stories which make it far easier for the newbie to grasp.
There are a few famous faces from the crypto community, most notably venture capitalist, Adam Draper, who provide talking head viewpoints, alongside reportage and traditional documentary analysis.
The only weakness is that crypto and blockchain move so fast that parts of this already look a little dated, but that shouldn’t detract from its overall value.
13. StartUp
This is not a crypto movie or Bitcoin movies but the best cryptocurrency TV show, StartUp is a series about a group of entrepreneurs who develop a new decentralized digital currency in the midst of crime, government oversight, and corporate competitions. The series is great at portraying the pitfalls of starting a blockchain startup and how digital currencies are a sanctuary for crooks and geniuses.
12. Bitcoin: The End of Money As We Know It
The crypto movie review provides a historical background to money, describing central banks and fiat monetary systems before revealing Bitcoin as an alternative system. It blames inflation, fiscal manipulation, and government intervention and introduces Bitcoin as a decentralized hedge against fiscal uncertainty. You need to watch this documentary if you’re interested in the economic and philosophical aspect of Bitcoin.
11. Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet
This Bitcoin movie and blockchain documentary discusses the evolution of post-Bitcoin cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum, DeFi, and NFTs. Director Torsten Hoffmann describes how such blockchains can transform industries but also discusses scalability, regulation, and sustainability challenges in general. This is a best Bitcoin documentary for now which is would be ideal for someone who wishes to discover the potential along with the danger of blockchain technology.
10. Currency – Youtube
It may be a bit of a cheat to include a two minute sponsored film about how money is changing, but given it is narrated by and features Spike Lee, we’ve made an exception.
Spike Lee has made a name directing films that expose issues of racial inequality, most recently BlacKkKlansman and Da 5 Bloods, so it’s a very interesting choice for him to direct and star in a commercial for a Crypto ATM.
There are clearly parallels between racial and financial exclusion, and the film certainly aims to make a case for progress via new digital currencies, but at two minutes it is more about raising awareness and triggering discussion than providing any detailed insight.
9. Fake (TBD)
Fake is one to look out for rather than available right now, given that it is the first movie about crypto with blockbuster appeal. Oscar winner, Kate Winslet, plays the starring role in the story of the OneCoin Ponzi Scheme based on a book by Jen McAdam, a personal account of being scammed and the repercussions of fighting back.
Jen McAdam’s story came to light via the BBC Podcast about OneCoin ‘The Missing Cryptoqueen’. It would be worth listening to that first; if you enjoy it, look out for ‘Fake’ in cinemas and online.
Though it focuses on the dark side of crypto, the OneCoin story should remind you what gives crypto value and what doesn’t.
8. The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin
The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin is a documentary released during the early stages of the cryptocurrency movement. It follows the life of Daniel Mross, a computer programmer and early Bitcoin enthusiast, as he becomes deeply involved in the crypto community.
The movie provides insights into the volatile nature of Bitcoin’s value, its potential to disrupt traditional financial systems, and the diverse community that has emerged around it. On balance, it aims to offer viewers a comprehensive understanding of the Bitcoin phenomenon, from its niche early days to the point at which it had started to gain a prominent position in the global financial landscape.
7. Bitconned
Bitconned is a documentary that explores the true story of the Centra Tech crypto scam. It delves into the exploits of three individuals who took advantage of the unregulated cryptocurrency market in the late 2010s to scam millions from investors and fund their lavish lifestyles.
The documentary explores themes such as greed, deception, and the human cost of fraud. If you’re interested in learning more about the dark side of cryptocurrency and the human stories behind such scams, Bitconned might be worth checking out.
6. Crypto
Crypto is a crime thriller film released in 2019 that revolves around the themes of money laundering, corruption, and cryptocurrency. The story follows a young anti-money laundering agent, Martin (played by Beau Knapp), who is assigned to investigate a web of corruption and illegal financial activities in his small hometown.
Throughout the movie, the tension between the traditional banking system and the emerging world of digital currencies crops up. To summarize, Crypto raises questions about the ethical implications of financial technologies and the challenges faced by law enforcement in the evolving landscape of digital currencies.
5. Silk Road
Silk Road is a crime thriller film released in 2021 that revolves around the rise and fall of the infamous dark web marketplace called Silk Road. The movie is based on real events and follows the story of Ross Ulbricht, the creator of Silk Road, and the federal agents who worked to bring him to justice.
Ross Ulbricht, operating under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts,” launched Silk Road as an online marketplace for illicit goods and services, which primarily involved drug trafficking across national borders. Bitcoin was used as the primary payment method on Silk Road. The film explores the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding the use of cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, on the dark web for anonymous transactions.
4. Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery
Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery is a documentary that explores the origin of Bitcoin and its mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. The documentary also covers the potential of Bitcoin, its impact on the global financial system, and what would happen if it became mainstream.
In this documentary, director Cullen Hoback delves into the heart of the cryptocurrency world, engaging with prominent figures in the space to investigate the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto. He also examines the potential influence Satoshi could wield if Bitcoin became an integral part of our everyday lives.
3. Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King
Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King is a 2022 Netflix true-crime documentary that delves into the mysterious death of Gerald Cotten, the CEO of QuadrigaCX, once Canada’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. In 2018, Cotten died suddenly in India at the age of 30, taking with him the passwords to digital wallets holding around $250 million in customer funds. What followed was a storm of conspiracy theories, fraud allegations, and suspicions that Cotten may have faked his death to escape accountability.
The film combines real interviews, archival footage, and dramatizations to explore the collapse of QuadrigaCX and the devastation it left for thousands of investors who lost their savings overnight. It also sheds light on the darker side of crypto markets, where regulation is scarce, trust is fragile, and fortunes can vanish in an instant. Through its investigation, the documentary highlights how the promise of financial freedom in crypto can quickly turn into financial ruin when transparency and accountability are absent.
2. Libertas: The Bitcoin Film
A Bitcoin movie is currently in the making, Libertas, based on a group of crypto pioneers who take a stand against government corruption and financial oppression. The movie was based on true events and is a tale of financial freedom, government overreach, and the adoption of Bitcoin. Given that facts are still unfolding, Libertas film Bitcoin will be one of the most interesting Bitcoin-themed movies.
1. The Great Reset and the Rise of Bitcoin
The movie about crypto and Bitcoin blends economic uncertainty, policy, and the future of Bitcoin (BTC) in international finance and is considered the best crypto documentary on Amazon Prime. The film talks about the future possibilities of hyperinflation, CBDCs, and decentralized alternatives such as Bitcoin. Bitcoin might become the most sought-after means of financial freedom in the future in the film.
Final Thoughts
Cryptoworld has also given birth to interesting crime dramas, educational documentaries, and tech television shows that brought Bitcoin and blockchain into everyday vocabulary. From the origin of Bitcoin to uncovering cryptocurrency scams, or to finding out about the prospective applications of blockchain in the future.
Source: Exolix
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