‘Misinformation, hype, and fraud’: Inside Ben McKenzie’s scathing new crypto doc—featuring Sam Bankman-Fried

Ben McKenzie, known for The O.C., has created a documentary titled "Everyone Is Lying to You for Money" that warns about cryptocurrency. McKenzie, with an economics background, spent six years researching crypto and wrote a book that inspired the film. The documentary explores his journey uncovering what he believes is a massive Ponzi scheme. It features interviews with victims and fraudsters, including Sam Bankman-Fried before his arrest. McKenzie argues that crypto functions more as gambling than a currency, driven by misinformation and fraud. He uses humor and personal stories to make the complex topic accessible to viewers. The film highlights victims who lost savings, like those invested in Celsius, and the consequences in El Salvador. A tense interview with Sam Bankman-Fried is a central part of the documentary. Despite acknowledging crypto's theoretical potential, McKenzie contends its practical use is minimal and exploitative. He remains concerned about the industry's influence, even after Bankman-Fried's conviction and the market downturns.