Ben McKenzie, the actor best known for his roles in “Gotham” and “The O.C.,” has emerged as a critical voice in the discourse surrounding cryptocurrency, particularly questioning the legitimacy of figures like Sam Bankman-Fried. Despite the glamour often associated with the crypto world, McKenzie, who holds an economics degree from the University of Virginia, views the domain as problematic and prone to deceit.
His skepticism deepened during the pandemic, ultimately leading him to collaborate with writer Jacob Silverman on a book titled Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud. This book serves as an exploration of the darker sides of cryptocurrency, culminating in a documentary titled Everyone Is Lying to You for Money. This film is set to premiere in New York and Los Angeles before rolling out to a broader audience.
In a pivotal segment of the documentary, McKenzie conducts an interview with Bankman-Fried, the founder of the now-defunct FTX cryptocurrency exchange, once valued in the billions. The interaction is noteworthy for McKenzie’s approach. Initially, he appears to adopt a naïve persona, asking Bankman-Fried, “Tell me about this cryptocurrency thing. What’s it all about?” However, underlying this seemingly innocent inquiry is McKenzie’s intent to challenge the fervent claims of legitimacy in the crypto space.
A defining moment during the interview involves a coffee mug that McKenzie brought along, adorned with a phrase that reads, “Being a fraud investigator is easy. It’s like riding a bike except the bike is on fire, you’re on fire, everything’s on fire.” This mug, positioned prominently in front of Bankman-Fried, speaks volumes about the gravity of the conversation.
After a recent screening of Everyone Is Lying to You for Money at the Miami Film Festival—a fitting venue as Miami has hosted significant cryptocurrency events—McKenzie participated in a Q&A session. One audience member inquired about his coffee cup, interpreting it as a psychological tactic during the interview. McKenzie reflected on this strategy, emphasizing his role in questioning Bankman-Fried on critical issues, including the ex-CEO’s political donations that had made certain members of Congress fervent supporters of cryptocurrency. The irony of these political figures being “shocked” upon Bankman-Fried’s arrest on various fraud charges has not gone unnoticed.
Currently, Bankman-Fried serves a 25-year prison sentence at FCI Terminal Island in San Pedro, California, a stark reminder of the very real consequences of the burgeoning and controversial crypto space that McKenzie is determined to scrutinize. The documentary aims to shed light on the illusion of safety and legitimacy in cryptocurrency, echoing McKenzie’s deep-seated concerns that many in this field are not just misled but may also intentionally mislead others.
