Unless you have been living under a rock for the last decade, you will have been hard-pressed to have missed the meteoric rise of cryptocurrencies!
In just a little over a decade, this revolutionary technology has grown from being a relatively niche interest¾relevant only to a few technologists¾to a widely adopted technology that has created an entire industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
The technology underpinning cryptocurrencies has drawn interest from a range of different sectors and industries. And with everyone from online casino platforms like Metaspins to luxury goods manufacturers now accepting cryptos, it is safe to say that the crypto era has well and truly begun!
If you are relatively new to the crypto world and are looking to do a deep dive into what exactly cryptocurrencies are, here is a run-down of the best documentaries to bring you up to speed!
The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin
The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin is a 2011 documentary that follows David Mross on his journey to go deeper into the world of cryptocurrencies.
Mross first stumbled across Bitcoin in 2011 and quickly became obsessed with the technology and the community that had built up around it. With this new-found obsession, Mross set out to create a documentary that would help raise awareness of the potential the technology has and what it could mean for the world.
The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin is a well-produced documentary that captures the sense of magic that was present in the technology’s earliest days.
Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It
Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It is a 2015 documentary that takes viewers on a journey to discover more about the origins of cryptocurrency and its role as a form of currency.
To do this, the producers start by placing Bitcoin in the context of the history of various monetary and financial systems that humans have developed. This includes brief looks at everything from the history of Wall Street to the origins of the current monetary system.
Moving beyond these now antiquated financial systems, the producers shine the light on Bitcoin and its role in the modern world. Although arguably a little bit optimistic in its appraisal, Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It does an excellent job of placing cryptocurrencies in a longer historical arc.
Bitcoin: Beyond the Bubble
A great option for those of you looking for a shorter, more concise introduction to cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin: Beyond the Bubble is a great place to get started.
At just a little over half-an-hour in length, this interesting documentary is the perfect intro to the technology, whilst also discussing some of the many criticisms it has generated.
Although lacking depth in certain aspects of the story, Bitcoin: Beyond the Bubble is still a solid introduction to the crypto-curious amongst you!
Banking on Bitcoin
Given that it has since been shown on the Netflix streaming platform, Banking on Bitcoin is easily the most popular Bitcoin and crypto documentary currently available.
It focuses on setting out the beginnings of Bitcoin and then using this background to explore its potential. Banking on Bitcoin is an excellent documentary, not only for the production value as a whole but also for the interviews it has with some of the early players in the crypto investment space.
In addition to this exposition, Banking on Bitcoin is also to be commended for not shying away from some of the more controversial sides to the Bitcoin story. This includes the many regulatory challenges it faces, as well as some of the early scandals that plagued the sector.
Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains and the Future of the Internet
Cryptopia is a 2018 documentary that explores the revolutionary technology of Bitcoin, as well as the impact cryptocurrencies have had on the Internet more generally.
We really appreciated how lucidly Cryptopia sets out some of the more technical sides of cryptocurrencies, which were particularly well-handled! It also does an excellent job of exploring the various uses cryptocurrencies have, which include both supply chain management and voting functions.
Through discussions with leading professionals in the industry, Cryptopia explores many important themes in the Bitcoin story. This includes the challenges of balancing innovation and regulation, as well as the environmental impact cryptos can have.
With that said, if you want a well-balanced take on the cryptocurrency story, Cryptopia is well worth a watch!
