Hollywood's Growing Obsession with Crypto Stories: From Bitcoin Mystery to FTX Downfall

Blockchain and cryptocurrency narratives are no longer niche territory in entertainment—they’re becoming mainstream Hollywood productions. Two major projects announced recently signal how deeply digital assets have embedded themselves in popular culture storytelling.

The Bitcoin Creator Enigma Gets the Thriller Treatment

Director Doug Liman, renowned for crafting intense spy narratives in films like “The Bourne Identity” and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” is bringing Bitcoin’s origin story to the big screen through a high-stakes thriller titled “Killing Satoshi.” The project has locked in two significant acting talents: Pete Davidson, known for his SNL work and comedic roles, and Academy Award-winning actor Casey Affleck, switching gears to explore the digital currency realm.

The film’s narrative, penned by Nick Schenk (who has worked extensively with director Clint Eastwood on scripts including “Gran Torino”), frames the search for Bitcoin’s mysterious creator Satoshi Nakamoto as a geopolitical conflict. Rather than a straightforward biography, the story positions multiple global powers—governments, financial institutions, and tech industry players—in competition to uncover or control information about Bitcoin’s anonymous founder.

Liman characterized the central narrative as a “David and Goliath” dynamic, though production details about Casey Affleck’s and Pete Davidson’s specific roles remain under wraps. The film promises espionage elements interwoven with political maneuvering, presenting antiheroes up against some of the world’s most influential entities. At its core, the story tackles questions about monetary systems and where true power resides.

The Broader Entertainment Trend

This project reflects a significant shift in how mainstream media addresses cryptocurrency. Bitcoin’s decentralized nature and Satoshi Nakamoto’s unconfirmed identity have captivated public imagination for years, and Hollywood is capitalizing on that intrigue by transforming it into dramatic narratives. The involvement of established talent like Casey Affleck—an Oscar-winning actor typically associated with prestige dramas—demonstrates that crypto-themed content is attracting serious creative voices, not just B-movie productions.

FTX’s Spectacular Collapse Gets the Netflix Treatment

Parallel to “Killing Satoshi,” Netflix is developing an ambitious limited series examining the implosion of cryptocurrency exchange FTX. Titled “The Altruists,” the eight-part series is being produced through Higher Ground Productions, the production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama.

The series will center on the dramatic downfall of FTX, which spectacularly unraveled after its valuation collapsed by $8 billion. The narrative will feature Julia Garner portraying Caroline Ellison and Anthony Boyle playing Sam Bankman-Fried, the exchange’s now-infamous founder. The show promises to chronicle how youthful ambition and financial schemes within the crypto space culminated in one of the sector’s most high-profile failures.

What This Means for Crypto’s Cultural Position

The simultaneous development of “Killing Satoshi” and “The Altruists” illustrates that cryptocurrency narratives have moved beyond fringe interest into mainstream entertainment territory. Whether exploring the philosophical mystery of Bitcoin’s origins or documenting real-world financial scandal, Hollywood is recognizing audience appetite for stories grounded in digital assets and blockchain technology. These productions suggest that crypto’s impact on culture extends far beyond financial markets—it’s now shaping how audiences understand money, power, and innovation through dramatic storytelling.