Ben McKenzie’s Crypto Warning: ‘Everyone Is Lying to You for Money’
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Actor Ben McKenzie, best known for his role in 'The O.C.', shares his journey from pandemic-induced downtime to becoming a leading critic of the cryptocurrency industry. Initially skeptical of crypto after his friend's dubious financial advice, McKenzie dove deep into research and discovered a world rife with fraud, celebrity exploitation, and criminal ties—particularly through figures like Jeffrey Epstein and Sam Bankman-Fried. His investigation culminated in a book co-written with journalist Jacob Silverman and a documentary, 'Everyone Is Lying to You for Money,' which blends dark comedy with investigative rigor. McKenzie details how he financed the film by shorting crypto, betting against its collapse, and how he secured a controversial interview with the now-imprisoned FTX founder. He critiques the ethical breach of celebrities like Matt Damon, Tom Brady, and Kim Kardashian endorsing crypto as financial products without proper licensing, arguing it misled the public and endangered their own reputations. Despite initial resistance from streamers, the film has found success, blending personal narrative with systemic critique of the crypto boom's illusions and consequences.
Crypto's rise was fueled by criminal activity and secrecy, with early funding from figures like Jeffrey Epstein tied to the dark web and Silk Road.
Celebrity endorsements of crypto were largely paid promotions, not genuine endorsements, and represent a serious ethical and legal breach.
Sam Bankman-Fried’s downfall stemmed from a lack of transparency, conflicts of interest, and a psychological need to believe in his own narrative.
Shorting crypto was a high-risk, high-reward strategy that funded McKenzie’s documentary and validated his skepticism.
The film uses humor and personal storytelling to expose the absurdity and danger of the crypto hype cycle.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Pandemic Pivot: From Actor to Crypto Critic
“I just became concerned that something bad was going to happen and so I, well, I took an edible and I decided I wanted to write a book about this.”
The Epstein Connection: Crypto’s Dark Origins
“The first use case of crypto was the Silk Road, was this dark web drug marketplace. Then the Silk Road was shut down. And so Jeffrey Epstein stepped in in 2015 at a fairly pivotal moment.”
Sam Bankman-Fried: The Method Actor Fraudster
“They're sort of like method actors. They have to kind of believe that they are actually successful businessmen in order to rationalize and self-justify their behavior.”
Celebrity Endorsements: The Ethical Breach
“There's nothing wrong with celebrities shilling consumer goods, soap, cars, whatever. But this was a financial product and you're not supposed to do that if you're not a licensed financial advisor.”
From Book to Film: Financing the Truth
McKenzie reveals how he self-financed the documentary by shorting crypto, turning his skepticism into a financial bet, and how the film’s comedic tone helped convey a serious message.
“Everyone is lying to you for money.”
“The first use case of crypto was the Silk Road, was this dark web drug marketplace. Then the Silk Road was shut down. And so Jeffrey Epstein stepped in in 2015 at a fairly pivotal moment.”
“There's nothing wrong with celebrities shilling consumer goods, soap, cars, whatever. But this was a financial product and you're not supposed to do that if you're not a licensed financial advisor.”
Host
Guest
Ben McKenzie
person
Sam Bankman-Fried
person
Jeffrey Epstein
person
Jacob Silverman
person
The O.C.
media
FTX
organization
Brock Pierce
person
The Business
media
KCRW
organization
Matt Damon
person
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