Blockchain and crypto have captured the popular imagination in a way that no other technology has quite managed in the last couple of decades.
Something about crypto’s counter-cultural, anti-establishment nature lends itself to drama and intrigue, so it’s unsurprising that we’ve been deluged with some truly excellent movies, TV shows, miniseries, and documentaries.
These can be great viewing for anyone with even a passing interest in blockchain technology, crypto, or alternative finance.
But where do you start? There are tons of options out there. This article’ll show you some of the best crypto movies and shows to watch for inspiration, education, and fun.
1. The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin
Release Year: 2014
IMDB Rating: 7.1
Genre: Documentary
Platform: Prime Video, Apple TV
Summary: The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin follows Daniel, a 35-year-old computer programmer from Pittsburgh. Daniel’s a husband, father, and serious Bitcoin enthusiast who has been deeply embedded in the world of Web3 since early 2011.
The movie introduces us to the world of Bitcoin in 2014, and features entrepreneurs, projects, and different movements within the decentralized web. It asks questions about the future of crypto and how it might change the world.
From today’s perspective, The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin might sometimes feel a bit outdated. It’s a decade old, after all, and the crypto space has changed a lot, but many of the insights hold up, and it also offers a fascinating reminder of how things looked and felt back in those early days.
2. Banking on Bitcoin
Release Year: 2016
IMDB Rating: 6.6
Genre: Documentary
Platform: Peacock, Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play
Summary: Banking on Bitcoin made waves when it came out in 2016. It looks at the impact of Bitcoin on the world and the way we think about finance, presenting crypto as an ideological challenge to the current economic status quo. In this documentary, you’ll find out how Bitcoin works, how it might impact the current and future world, and who’s leading the charge (at least, who was in 2016).
3. Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains and the Future of the Internet
Release Year: 2020
IMDB Rating: 6.8
Genre: Documentary
Platform: Apple TV, Netflix, Prime
Summary: Cryptopia, Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet, produced by Torsten Hoffman, takes a deep dive into blockchain technology and what it means for the world. The question at the heart of the documentary is how blockchain will shape the future of the internet and what kind of alternative it can offer to the centralized way of doing things online.
4. Bitcoin: The End of Money As We Know It
Release Year: 2015
IMDB Rating: 6.9
Genre: Documentary
Platform: Prime Video, Apple TV
Summary: “The End of Money As We Know It” is a provocative and fitting title for this documentary. It looks at the history of what we call money, how currencies work, and how today’s financial system evolved over the past few decades. Then, we learn how Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies offer an alternative to this status quo and what benefits they bring.
5. Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain
Release Year: 2018
IMDB Rating: 6.7
Genre: Documentary
Platform: Prime Video, Apple TV+, Google Play Movies
Summary: The Story of Blockchain, as the name suggests, is a neat history of blockchain technology, how it works, and what it means for the world. The film also explores the feasibility of these currencies and whether they will stand the test of time.
6. StartUp (TV Series)
Release Year: 2016-2018
IMDB Rating: 7.8
Genre: Crime drama
Platform: Where to watch (Netflix, YouTube, Prime, etc.)
Summary: StartUp is a crime drama with a romantic and thrilling spin on blockchain. The story follows a banker, a gangster, and a hacker, all three of whom come together to form an unlikely trio that changes the face of organized crime. But will they escape the pursuit of a determined and shady FBI agent?
7. Crypto (2019)
Release Year: 2019
IMDB Rating: 5.2
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Platform: Google Play, Apple TV, Prime
Summary: Crypto may not have a Google-friendly name, but it’s a fun and interesting movie about money laundering with a crypto twist. The movie follows Marty Duran, a banker with a conscience, who uncovers a multi-million dollar money laundering scheme led by Russian gangsters and becomes embroiled in the world of cryptocurrency forever.
8. Explained: Cryptocurrency
Release Year: 2018
IMDB Rating: 7.0
Genre: Documentary
Platform: Netflix
Summary: This one isn’t a movie or a standalone TV show but an episode of the popular Netflix show Explained. Explained dives into big questions about climate change, pandemics, politics, and cryptocurrency. This episode is a simple and accessible overview of crypto, how it works, and how it’s changing the world.
9. Dead Man’s Switch: A Crypto Mystery
Release Year: 2021
IMDB Rating: 6.3
Genre: Documentary
Platform: Prime Video, CBC Gem
Summary: Dead Man’s Switch is based on a real-life crypto mystery. It follows the intriguing story of Gerald Cotton, a Canadian crypto entrepreneur who disappeared in 2018, taking the password to his company’s cold wallet. Where did he go? Did he die? And how will his investors ever be able to access their funds?
10. Open Source Money
Release Year: 2020
IMDB Rating: 8.2
Genre: Documentary series
Platform: Roku, Apple TV+
Summary: Open Source Money was funded by cryptocurrency, and it offers an original glimpse into the world of blockchain. It explores different projects and innovations that have failed and succeeded in the U.S. over the years, and also dives a little deeper into the human side of space than many other movies.
11. Bitconned (Netflix)
Release Year: 2024
IMDB Rating: 6.5
Genre: True crime Documentary
Platform: Netflix
Summary: Bitconned is the true story of Centra Tech, the
The film follows the three founders of Centra Tech as they raised more than $32 million in a fraudulent initial coin offering.
12. Vitalik: An Ethereum Story
Release Year: 2024
IMDB Rating: 7.9
Genre: Documentary
Platform: Apple TV, Prime Video
Summary: This recently released documentary follows one of the biggest names in the crypto universe: Vitalik Buterin, the creator of Ethereum. Buterin was born in Russia, grew up in Canada, and wrote a white paper proposing the idea of Ethereum in 2013, when he was just 19 years old. This documentary follows his life, his role in the Ethereum project, and his challenges.
Wrapping Things Up
Ready to start learning more about blockchain and crypto? The movies and shows we shared in this article are a great way to immerse yourself in the world of Web3 in a way that’s more entertaining and fun than poring over white papers and fervently checking CoinMarketCap.
If you’re already a crypto enthusiast, you’ll hopefully find one or two things on this list to kick back and enjoy this evening.
If you want to dive deeper into crypto, blockchain, and the various elements of decentralized finance, you don’t need to look any further than Dypto Crypto. We have:
- A cryptionary packed with all the must-know terms, concepts, and definitions in the world of Web3
- How-to guides walking you through all the basic steps of getting started in crypto
- A weekly newsletter with current crypto news stories, practical tips, and breakdowns of important trends, delivered straight to your inbox.
Check out our site for all this and more.