7 Must-See Bitcoin Documentaries

[Hayek]

The story of bitcoin’s journey into mainstream society seems practically made for Hollywood.

From its introduction to the public in 2008 with Satoshi Nakamoto’s white paper, up to today, bitcoin has endured dramatic highs and even more spellbinding lows as the community has matured alongside the technology.

With all of the scandal, tales of overnight millionaires and the captivating nature of such a disruptive invention, it should come as no surprise that many filmmakers are jumping at the opportunity to tell stories about bitcoin’s impact on people’s lives and society as a whole.

Because bitcoin is so technically complex and the concept of purely digital money is such a novelty to most people, it is sometimes difficult to communicate its value and its potential to truly change society on a global scale.

Documentaries are an approachable and entertaining medium for educating audiences all over the world on their subject matter, so it’s certainly fitting that there are a number of bitcoin documentaries in production.

These seven documentaries highlight bitcoin’s different use cases, its short but dramatic journey over the past five years, and its position in a long history of financial systems

1. ‘Bitcoin: The End of Money As We Know It’

2. ‘Life on Bitcoin’

3. ‘Bitcoin in Uganda’

One of the most profound benefits of using bitcoin instead of traditional methods to send and receive money can be seen when processing an international money transfer.

Unlike services like Western Union or MoneyGram, which charge a hefty fee for their work, sending money anywhere in the world with bitcoin takes minutes – not days – and the transaction fees pale in comparison to any alternative.

‘Bitcoin in Uganda’ serves as a storybook example of how these benefits can make a real difference in people’s lives. The short film puts a spotlight on a Ugandan student, Ronald, who relies on his family in the US to send him money for tuition.

Frustrated with the slow and expensive system that Ronald has relied on for so long, his brother-in-law suggested that his wife switch to bitcoin to send Ronald money for tuition payments.

4. ‘The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin’

5. ‘The Bitcoin Doco’

6. ‘I am Satoshi’

7. ‘Bitcoins in Argentina’

One of the most appealing qualities of bitcoin is its independence from any government-issued fiat currency. Advocates argue that, in theory, if a country’s national currency were to collapse or become extremely unstable, a decentralized currency like bitcoin is the ideal alternative for citizens to store value and fight inflation.

Indeed, Argentina has seen considerable inflation and monetary restrictions on its fiat currency, the Argentinian peso. ‘Bitcoins in Argentina’ is a short film that tells the story of Argentinians turning to bitcoin as an alternative way to protect their wealth.

coindesk