Esteemed actor and vocal cryptocurrency critic, Ben McKenzie, is set to step behind the lens for his directorial debut at the much-anticipated SXSW London. Slated for a premiere in June, the documentary, “Everyone Is Lying to You for Money” has been creating ripples of curiosity and intrigue.
McKenzie, who has garnered fame for his roles in acclaimed productions like “The O.C.” and “Gotham,” takes the audience on an investigative journey into the world of cryptocurrency in this documentary. It includes a noteworthy segment from El Salvador, where he analyzes President Nayib Bukele’s regime’s decision to legitimize Bitcoin as official tender in 2021.
Reflecting on his early warnings about cryptocurrency fraud in late 2021, McKenzie told Deadline, “I caught a lot of flak from the online bros. Now, many of those guys are behind bars, and unfortunately, millions of investors have been swindled by these con artists.”
The documentary features explosive interviews with high-profile figures from the cryptocurrency world, including the now-disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried and Celsius co-founder Alex Mashinsky. These interviews were conducted prior to their respective companies’ shocking bankruptcies in July and November 2022.
McKenzie’s interest in cryptocurrency emerged in 2021 during the global struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, he has not shied away from articulating his criticism, even testifying before the U.S. Senate Banking Committee following the shocking downfall of FTX.
The themes of the documentary echo those of McKenzie’s 2023 book, co-authored with journalist Ben Silverman. Titled “Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud,” the book delves into the narratives surrounding cryptocurrency and its implications.
Speaking about the motivation behind the film, McKenzie said, “The question I set out to answer with this film was, why is the false narrative of crypto still spreading? I am eagerly looking forward to the audience reactions to ‘Everyone Is Lying to You for Money,’ a comedy that offers a zero-respect treatment to crypto and its shameless promoters.”
At the time of this report, McKenzie has not yet responded to Decrypt’s request for comments. This story is sure to evolve and is a must-watch for the audience, both within and outside the cryptocurrency world.
