5 times crypto appeared in pop culture in 2024

As cryptocurrency continues to insinuate itself into the mainstream, its influence in today's popular culture is becoming increasingly apparent. From documentaries and music to reality TV and even live music events, 2024 has showcased the evolution of crypto in ways that entertain, educate and sometimes confuse audiences.

Here are five notable instances where crypto made its mark on pop culture this year.

HBO Money Electric takes Bitcoin to the mainstream

October 2024 HBO's highly anticipated documentary Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery is released.

Directed by Cullen Hoback – who previously worked on the QAnon mystery in 2021 – the film delves into the origins of Bitcoin and the enigmatic identity of its creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. A massive hoax campaign has attracted mainstream media attention. Could this be the movie to finally solve the mystery?

The documentary combines investigative journalism with cinematography and interviews with crypto veterans such as Blockstream's Adam Back and Roger “Bitcoin Jesus” Ver to simultaneously explore the broader crypto ecosystem, particularly its conflict with regulators and integration with existing financial systems.

Ultimately, Hoback offered a theory linking Bitcoin developer Peter Todd to Nakamoto, though Todd vehemently denied the claim.

Upon its release, My Money Is Electric was praised by some, but its central premise that Todd is Satoshi did not attract much interest, and the film sparked debate about the future of Bitcoin and the ethics of Hoback's investigative methods. The film highlights the growing political content of crypto investors and their influence on the 2024 US presidential election.

Kendrick Lamar drops Bitcoin bars at GNX

Kendrick Lamar stirs the crypto pot with the track “Wacked Out Murals” from his 2024 album GNX. In the song, Kendrick weaves Bitcoin into his lyrics, saying:

“Promisin banking transactions and even Bitcoin.

The poem appeared to call out rivals offering financial incentives, including Bitcoin, to gain influence. This seems to have prompted the artist to disdain the tricks employed by entertainers today.

Although subtle, its mention was popular in the hip hop vernacular of Bitcoin, which served as a metaphor for power and wealth. Kendrick's comments not only resonated with his fans, but also reignited discussions about Bitcoin's growing role in today's cultural paradigm.

The inclusion of crypto in their narratives by artists like Kendrick and Drake (who previously used bitcoin for gambling) highlighted the currency's impact on the cultural mainstream.

“America Loves Crypto” Concert Series Takes Over Swing States

In the year In the lead-up to the 2024 US presidential election, Stand With Crypto – a political initiative launched by Coinbase – held the “America Loves Crypto” concert series to rally support for candidates offering crypto-friendly policies.

One of the highlights of the night was the Black Keys' electrifying set, which lasted 45 minutes and covered 11 of the band's biggest hits. The series blends entertainment with political advocacy and has also featured artists including Big Sean and The Chainsmokers.

The free concert offered food, drinks and VIP perks to attendees who downloaded a digital wallet and claimed NFT. While the VIP section created intimacy for fans, the setup allowed crypto to enter every aspect of the event, from tickets to exclusive experiences.

By bringing together two seemingly disparate realms—crypto advocacy and pop culture—America Loves Crypto illustrates how major events can help shape public perception and policy.

Crypto gets its own shark tank with killer whales

In the year 2024 introduces Killer Wales, a reality TV show launch drama in partnership with Web3 Creative. Produced by Hello Labs and streaming on platforms such as Apple TV and Amazon Prime, the series features crypto entrepreneurs pitching their projects to a panel of industry experts, including Anthony Scaramucci and social media influencer Mario Naufal.

Unlike traditional pitch shows, Deadly Defaults wasn't about investing money, instead focused on mentorship and exposure to crypto startups. Projects that received “prime” votes from the panel were able to receive a marketing accelerator package worth up to $100,000 from CoinMarketCap.

The series' mix of business insight and personal drama seems to have attracted a wide audience, from crypto enthusiasts to reality TV fans. It also provided a unique platform to educate a mainstream audience about blockchain technologies and key crypto concepts such as tokenomics.

Netflix's Biggest Heist Explores Bitcoin's Bonnie and Clyde

True crime meets cryptocurrency in Netflix's Biggest Heist Ever, a documentary about the 2016 Bitfinex hack. The film explores the lives of Heather “Razalcan” Morgan and Ilia “Dutch” Lichtenstein, this eccentric couple who made billions in stolen Bitcoin.

Their unique antics, including Razilkan's creepy crypto-themed rap videos, turned his story into an internet sensation.

Furthermore, the documentary delves into the couple's intriguing personal lives and examines the technical intricacies of the hacking. Interviews with cyber security experts, former partners and law enforcement officials paint a vivid picture of how the theft occurred and its significance to the crypto ecosystem.

The biggest heist ever raised new questions about national security, particularly Liechtenstein's ties to Russia. The blend of suspense, humor and real-world digital heist made the film a standout in the genre, cementing crypto's place in pop culture's fascination with crime and mischief.