Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies in Movies: How Do Film Studios Follow the Trend?

Let’s see how often screenwriters and directors use virtual money to build plots and in what context real cryptocurrencies are most often mentioned in movies and TV series. 

Bitcoin in Movies & TV Shows

The film industry always strives to keep up with trends and meet public demand, so cryptocurrencies started appearing in movies as soon as the world learned about Bitcoin. The first cryptocurrency has been mentioned in the plots of some TV shows and movies since 2012. However, what’s interesting is that almost all of the mentions were related to criminal activity. 

Here are some examples of movies and TV series that mention Bitcoin:

1. In the TV series The Good Wife, Bitcoin is mentioned in Episode 9 of Season 3. The main characters discover their client has been using BTC to buy drugs online.
2. In Person of Interest, Bitcoin is mentioned in Episode 18 of Season 3. In the context of the series, one of the characters uses Bitcoin to gain access to a clandestine market. The first cryptocurrency is portrayed as a means for criminals to make transactions untraceable by law enforcement agencies.
3. Bitcoin is mentioned in several episodes of The Blacklist. The most prominent and meaningful reference was in Episode 9 of Season 2. The episode focuses on human trafficking and features Bitcoin as an anonymous way to conduct illegal and untraceable financial transactions.
4. In the movie Dope, 2015, Bitcoin is also mentioned in the context of cybercrime. When the main characters try to sell drugs on the darknet, they accept BTC as payment to stay anonymous. In another scene, the film characters discuss the potential of the first cryptocurrency as a way to bypass traditional banks and financial institutions.
5. Bitcoin is an important element of the plot in the TV series Mr. Robot. The first cryptocurrency is mentioned in several episodes, but one of the most iconic is Episode 5 of Season 3. In this episode, the main character uses Bitcoin for blackmail and extortion.

Besides, the first cryptocurrency was originally mentioned in the series iZombie. In Episode 7 of Season 1, the lead character eats the brains of a man who was mining Bitcoin and, as a result, acquires the knowledge and skills related to mining and using BTC.

In the movie Jexi, a super-smartphone supports online payment with Bitcoin. The script writers thus emphasize the futuristic nature of AI, which controls the main character’s smartphone.

Some screenwriters use the reference to BTC only to express sarcasm toward the phenomenon of cryptocurrencies. For example, in Deadpool, the main character mentions Bitcoin several times, and all references to the first cryptocurrency mainly serve to create humorous effects and establish a connection with current financial trends and audience interests. And in The Dictator, the main character has an absurd view of the world and says that Bitcoin owners control everything, which makes his statements sound wild and unbelievable. 

Bitcoin gets mentioned more than once in The Big Bang Theory. The funniest episode is the one where the characters are trying to find the hard drive of their old computer, which they used to mine BTC in the early days of its existence. In this episode, the writers illustrate the nature of the hype surrounding the first cryptocurrency and one of the peculiarities of Bitcoin — up to 20% of the entire issue can be lost forever. 

Other Cryptocurrencies in Movies & TV Shows

Filmmakers don’t just use Bitcoin to build plots. You can also find references to altcoins in some movies and TV shows. Here are some of them:

1. The movie Anon, 2018, mentions Monero (XMR) and Cardano (ADA). The film’s protagonist uses them as a means of payment to conduct financial transactions without revealing personal information.
2. The 2014 film The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz mentions Litecoin (LTC). The main character in one of the scenes buys drugs online using this particular cryptocurrency.
3. In the TV series Silicon Valley, in one of the scenes the characters decide to create their own cryptocurrency and suggest using the image of a Shiba Inu, a symbol of Dogecoin (DOGE), to attract attention to their project. Dogecoin is mentioned in the context of creating a joke and silly cryptocurrency. 

Crypto Documentaries

There are many documentaries about the formation and development of the crypto market and Bitcoin. Each of them tells the real stories of people, companies, and events related to the first cryptocurrency.

Here are some documentaries about Bitcoin:

1. The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin. The 2014 film tells the story of the emergence of cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin’s impact on the global economy.
2. Banking on Bitcoin. The 2016 film explores the influence of Bitcoin on the banking system.
3. Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It. The 2015 film reveals the story of the first cryptocurrency and its potential to change the financial world.
4. Magic Money: The Bitcoin Revolution. The 2017 documentary opens up various aspects of Bitcoin, including its technical nature.
5. Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet. The 2020 film is about the role of Bitcoin and blockchain technology in the creation of the Web3 space.

In summary, virtual currencies, especially Bitcoin, are actively used in the film industry, reflecting current trends and interests of society. However, filmmakers and screenwriters often turn to cryptocurrencies to emphasize the possibilities of their illegal use or to mock the hype erupting around them. Therefore, movies often reflect the negative side of public perception of Bitcoin and other digital assets.