Actor Ben McKenzie, known for starring in the TV series The O.C., Southland, and Gotham, and author of the book ‘Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud’, takes a deeper dive into the murky world of cryptocurrency in his new documentary, Everyone Is Lying to You for Money.
McKenzie steps behind the camera for his directorial debut, bringing his years of outspoken criticism of crypto into a sharply focused investigative film. The documentary features McKenzie himself alongside key figures connected to the crypto boom, including Sam Bankman-Fried, Alex Mashinsky, and political figures such as Nayib Bukele, as well as appearances by actress Morena Baccarin.
Blending personal inquiry with journalistic investigation, the film explores the rise of digital currency culture, exposing the narratives, hype, and financial risks that have shaped one of the most controversial economic phenomena of the modern era.
Everyone Is Lying to You for Money first premiered at SXSW London 2025, then continued its festival run with screenings at the Mill Valley Film Festival and DOC NYC, and is set to open in U.S. theaters on April 17, 2026, via The Forge.
In Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, actor and author Ben McKenzie turns investigator, pulling back the curtain on the cryptocurrency industry and the culture of hype, misinformation, and speculation that fueled its explosive rise. What began as a promise of financial freedom has evolved into a volatile ecosystem rife with fraud and reckless gambling, carrying with it devastating consequences for everyday people.
Through firsthand reporting, expert interviews, and a clear-eyed examination of major collapses and scandals, the film traces how crypto became one of the most aggressively marketed financial products of the modern era—and how warning signs were ignored, dismissed, or deliberately obscured.
As fortunes are made and lost, Everyone Is Lying to You for Money asks a sobering question: who benefits from the chaos, and who is left to clean up the damage? Accessible, urgent, and often darkly ironic, the film is both a cautionary tale and a call for accountability—cutting through the noise to expose a system built on speculation, influence, and belief rather than truth.
McKenzie explains that he aims to challenge the widespread narratives surrounding cryptocurrency, and continues to warn audiences about the risks, saying, “In 2023, three banks failed in the United States, and the failures were all tied to cryptocurrency. It’s one thing for people to gamble with their own money and lose it. I’m not anti-gambling, per se. I am against gambling when other people have to foot the bill for your losses, which affects the whole system. I worry that could happen with crypto.”
Writing in program notes for the Mill Valley Film Festival, Zaki Hasan described the documentary as a “brisk, absorbing documentary exploring the hype and hazards of cryptocurrency.” Hasan added, “Threaded through all of this, however, are human stories of everyday people left holding the bag after their dreams of crypto fortunes collapse—such as a Texas contractor who sheds tears upon losing his life savings. Guiding the audience on this journey, McKenzie’s tone remains skeptical without ever tipping into cynicism. Instead, he delivers a film that’s clear-eyed and timely while also serving as a captivating primer for anyone still trying to wrap their heads around what crypto actually is.”
Watch the official trailer for Everyone Is Lying to You for Money above.
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