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Cryptocurrencies are gradually making their way into the lives of common people. What was once a niche topic of conversation and generated curiosity among people is slowly turning into a means of viable investment. Crypto may not have become mainstream yet, but it cannot be ignored either.
Maybe there is still some time before we can pay for a cup of coffee or book a flight ticket with cryptocurrency, but the awareness about crypto is propagating faster than we imagined. Cryptocurrency has not just begun to revolutionize the world of finance but has found its place in popular culture as well. Over the past few years, there have been several references to crypto in the world of music, cinema, and TV shows. Cryptocurrency seems to be invading popular culture, and it won’t be long before it comes into the mainstream as well.
Looking at the influence of cryptocurrency in the present-day world, it surely seems like crypto might be the currency of the future. We have curated for you some of the most widely viewed and some unexpected references of cryptocurrency in pop culture during the last decade.
Television
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Cryptocurrency, more particularly Bitcoin, has probably gained the most limelight on TV shows. When we say TV shows, though, we obviously mean shows on OTT platforms as well, given their growing popularity among viewers today. The reference to crypto in TV shows started as early as 2012.
- The Good Wife
The Good Wife was a popular TV show aired in the early 2010s, and it probably made the first-ever Bitcoin reference on TV. The episode named “Bitcoin for Dummies” was aired in January 2012. A large part of this episode was dedicated to Bitcoin, where the three main characters of the show discuss the Bitcoin ecosystem in detail.
The character Alicia, played by Julianna Margulies, is seen defending a group of people who launched a new cryptocurrency against the Treasury Department. The episode requires Alicia to understand the cryptocurrency better, and so she discusses Bitcoin with two other characters, including the trading, mining, and price of Bitcoin, which was just $3 back then.
- The Simpsons
Nothing can be truly considered as part of pop culture unless it finds its place in The Simpsons. And cryptocurrency did find mention in the Wildly popular TV show as early as 2013. The Simpsons show has always been way ahead of its time, and it is simply not possible that they would let crypto pass unnoticed.
Cryptocurrency has been referenced not once but in nearly three episodes on this longest-running animated TV show with a huge following. The first reference was seen in episode 7 of season 25, named “Yellow Subterfuge.” In this episode, Lisa Simpson runs into Krusty, who mentions losing money in the Bitcoin market.
This was just the first time Bitcoin made an appearance in The Simpsons, but there was more to come. The second time we saw Bitcoin on the show again was in 2014, episode 1 of season 26. The episode was named “Clown in the Dumps,” where the high school bully Corky James appears on a billboard with a speech bubble that says, “send me your lunch money online!”. And at the bottom of the billboard, we see “Accepting Bitcoin” written in all caps.
The third time we saw a cryptocurrency reference in The Simpsons was more recently in season 31, episode 13, released in 2019. This was, in fact, more than just a reference but a full-fledged explanation of how cryptocurrency and blockchains work. In this episode, named Frinkcoin, actor Jim Parsons makes a guest appearance.
Professor Frink wants Lisa to understand more about cryptocurrency and switches on the TV where Jim Parsons explains the concept in a funny song and dance sequence. They call it the cash of the future that is not in your wallet but in your computer. And like most other incredible predictions that The Simpsons has made in the past, it is highly likely this one’s going to be true as well.
With so many instances where cryptocurrency has been mentioned in The Simpsons, it is worthy enough to be considered as part of pop culture now.
- Family Guy
Another very popular animated TV show to have referenced cryptocurrency as early as 2016 was Family Guy. In an episode of the Family Guy, aired in January 2016, Lois Griffin talks about how their savings are getting smaller every month. She says they need to find a better way to budget for the family’s future, to which Peter Griffin responds, “Bitcoin!” Lois does not understand and asks, “What?” and Peter says, “I don’t know.”
That’s all there is and no more explanation is given later in the episode or any other mention of Bitcoin is made. But this one reference does place Bitcoin as a profitable investment if you look at it that way.
- Mr. Robot
This award-winning show may have had a huge contribution in making cryptocurrency all the more popular. The protagonist of the show, Elliot Anderson, is a genius hacker and a vigilante. He creates his own cryptocurrency mixer in the show that jumbles similar amounts together, making it difficult to track their history. It is similar to real-life cryptocurrency mixers that help users increase the anonymity of transactions.
The cryptocurrency reference in Mr. Robot has been kept extremely realistic and is a major focus of the show.
- The Big Bang Theory
One of the most popular sitcoms of the 2000s, The Big Bang Theory, wasn’t far behind when it came to hopping on to the crypto bandwagon. Bitcoin made an appearance on the show in the ninth episode of season 11, named “The Bitcoin Entanglement.” The episode was aired in November 2017, where three of the main characters, Leonard, Howard, and Raj, are seen discussing Bitcoin prices and how they have risen recently. That is when they remember they had mined some Bitcoin a few years ago, and that is going to be huge money now.
But sadly, they don’t remember where they had saved it, and after a long chain of events trying to find their Bitcoin, they fail. The episode does not go into much of the technical detail of Bitcoin but does show how the value of Bitcoin has amplified over the years.
- Silicon Valley
If there have been so many pop culture references to cryptocurrencies, you could not leave out Silicon Valley. This show about a start-up incubator in Silicon Valley makes many references to cryptocurrency and blockchain. The references start from the very first season of the show, where, in episode 3, Gilfoyle does not have a bank account as he is a foreign national without any legal documents.
Because his pay cannot be transferred to a bank account and he cannot provide documents to open an account either, he requests Jared to convert his paycheques into cash or Bitcoin. This goes on to show how Bitcoin can be a free currency and is not bound by any regulations irrespective of where the person is from or where they are working from.
There’s more from Gilfoyle, who seems to be a huge fan of crypto. In season 5, episode 7, Gilfoyle tries to convince the CEO of Pied Piper, Richard, that the company should start promoting cryptocurrency as an ideal form of currency. He even makes an entire presentation to drive home the point. Gilfoyle feels that Pied Piper should develop its own cryptocurrency.
- Grey’s Anatomy
Cryptocurrency also made it to the popular medical drama based mostly on the Grey Sloan Medical Hospital. In an episode of the show aired in 2017, the hospital is shown to face a cyberattack. The ransomware attack takes control of all their systems and records and demands 4,932 Bitcoins to give them back their encryption key.
- Startup
This entire show revolves around a group of people trying to build a startup to develop a new digital currency, or cryptocurrency, if you will. It shows their journey and the wrongdoings that they have to resort to in order to start their venture.
The makers of the show have tried to keep the cryptocurrency references throughout the series very authentic. They even consulted actual fintech experts to make sure their references are on point. The show set in Miami stars big names like Martin Freeman and tries to represent cryptocurrency in the most realistic way it can.
Movies
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If cryptocurrency has got so much exposure in TV shows, then undoubtedly, the movies have to have referenced crypto as well. And there are indeed some very popular movies that have had their own take on cryptocurrencies.
- Spiderman Into the Spider-Verse
In the recent Spiderman movie, a very subtle reference to cryptocurrency was made that many viewers may have missed. The Bitcoin Easter Egg in the Spiderman movie was not too easy to find. But if you noticed carefully, a scene in the movie makes a subtle joke about the volatility of cryptocurrency. In the scene, Spiderman is looking at a huge billboard that is displaying a piece of news about Spiderman, and the ticker at the bottom shows, “Bitcoin hits a new high,” immediately followed by “Bitcoin hits a new low.”
A little exaggerated but not incorrect as the crypto market is truly quite a rollercoaster ride.
- Dope
Dope, in 2015, was one of the earliest films to make a reference to cryptocurrencies. It is full of bitcoin references, though certainly not in a positive light. The movie does focus on the criminal aspects of Bitcoin. The movie, in fact, starts with one of the characters saying he just read somewhere that "Money as we know it is dead." And goes on to predict that soon Bitcoin will be the only currency people use.
The movie was more or less well-received by the crypto community. Though it was a hardcore cryptocurrency movie that might be easier to understand for Bitcoin users, it could be an educational film for those unfamiliar with crypto too.
Dope was also the first movie to accept Bitcoin as payment for tickets.
- Bitcoin Heist
When the name of the movie itself has Bitcoin in it, it doesn’t need much of an explanation. Bitcoin Heist is a Vietnamese action movie. What could be more exciting than getting to see action and cryptocurrency heist in a single movie? The original name of the movie is Phim Sieu Trom. Though it could not make an impact as it should have on the Western audience, it was a huge hit in Vietnam and may have made a cult following in the western world too. The movie received accolades in its country of origin and even made its way to the Viet Film Fest 2016 in California.
- Horrible Bosses 2
Bitcoin has made an appearance, albeit not very accurately, in another mainstream Hollywood movie. Horrible Bosses 2 has a subtle reference to Bitcoin, where the character played by Jamie Foxx says he used the cryptocurrency to make an untraceable or anonymous purchase of prepaid cell phones. This reference reinforces a common misconception that Bitcoin transactions are, by nature, anonymous and can be used for illegal trading. That does not put cryptocurrency in the best light, but it still gives it some limelight.
- Deadpool
If you are a fan of both superhero movies and cryptocurrency, here’s another one for you. This a very subtle reference that is easy to miss if you are not very observant when it comes to watching a movie. The Bitcoin reference in this Marvel superhero film is in just one scene and that too vaguely in the background.
The scene is where Deadpool visits a bar owned by his best friend, and while they are talking, you can see a Bitcoin banner on the top left corner. Barely visible, but definitely there. Though this reference may not be valid according to some, we believe it has been put into the scene on purpose. And being in a movie so popular among mainstream audiences makes Bitcoin a star as well.
- Deep Web
You wouldn’t call Deep Web a mainstream movie. It could be a hybrid between a documentary and mainstream cinema at best. But it is surely a great movie to watch for cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Having a film that primarily focuses on cryptocurrency along with stories of Silk Road and politics that are found in the deep web is a thrilling experience. Cryptocurrency gains enough limelight here and could have brought a cult following to this movie.
To add to the excitement, the narration is done by none other than Keanu Reeves, who is a huge Bitcoin enthusiast himself. If you have some time to spare, this could be a great educational experience about Bitcoin and the deep web.
Music
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In the music scene too, cryptocurrency seems to have had some influence. From not-so-popular popstars to the most popular “rap gods,” a lot of musicians have made references to cryptocurrency in their music.
- Not Alike - Eminem
The “rap god” pun must have given it away already. Eminem himself has made a reference to Bitcoins in one of his popular songs from the album Kamikaze. The song titled Not Alike has a line that says, “Remember everybody used to bite nickel, now everybody doing Bitcoin.” That is some major attention that Bitcoin has got in recent times.
- Crypto Life – Coin Daddy
This song comes as a celebration after making a fortune investing in Bitcoins. Coin Daddy, who was originally a real estate agent turned crypto-millionaire at the age of 28 years, is a rapper too. His song Crypto Life came after he struck gold in Bitcoin investments and rose to popularity overnight. That is how cryptocurrency is changing lives these days.
- Kasotsuka Shojo
Kasotsuka Shojo is the world’s first “crypto-pop group.” You will find things like these only in Japan, of course. This is a pop girl band that has eight members, each representing one kind of cryptocurrency. The artists also wear masks with the symbol of the cryptocurrency they represent, which include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Cardano, among others. The first single by this girl band, titled “The Moon and Virtual Currencies and Me,” has been quite a hit among fans and crypto enthusiasts.
The name of this Japanese pop group literally translates to “Virtual Currency Girls.” Now that is what we call it taking the crypto enthusiasm to another level altogether.
- Big Bank – Ft. Big Sean
YG’s song, featuring some big names in the music world like Nicki Minaj, 2 Chainz, and Big Sean, has a line referring to cryptocurrency too. In the song titled Big Bank, you would hear Big Sean singing a line that refers to crypto and “three coins.” We suggest you give it a listen to find out for yourself.
- Bitcoin Baron - Ytcracker
Ytcracker’s music is a good combination of rap and electronic. In this song about cryptocurrency, he tells you what a huge Bitcoin enthusiast he is. He also seems to be having fun breaking the status quo with his nerdy lifestyle.
- Bitcoin Cash – Lil Windex
Famous Canadian Rapper, Lil Windex, has also followed suit and written a song on Bitcoins. His song talks about the luxurious life that he lives, thanks to his “Bitcoin Cash.”
- 10,000 Bitcoins – Laura Saggers
10,000 Bitcoins is a dream that every crypto enthusiast is probably nurturing. And that is exactly what Laura Saggers is talking about. In her song, 10,000 Bitcoins, she tells you all that she would do if she had that much money, or Bitcoin, to spend.
- Bitcoin Billionaire – Remy
While most of the other crypto songs so far are about the lavish lifestyle that it can provide or how everyone wants to own cryptocurrency, Remy tries to have a funny take on the whole Bitcoin business. One of the funniest lines in the song being, “A money like my last girl, Completely virtual.” By the end of the song, the entire Bitcoin stash of the Bitcoin Billionaire burns up in a solar flare leaving him broke. Kind of a metaphor for losing all that you have to Bitcoin investments gone wrong.
Books and Comics
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Books and comic panels are another aspect of pop culture where cryptocurrency seems to have made an impact. From superhero comics to Dilbert to books for the curious nerds, cryptocurrency has made a mark on this form of art as well
- Catwoman
The popular DC superhero comic panel, Catwoman, makes a reference to Bitcoin in 2014. It talks about a coup that was organized to wipe out a Bitcoin stash at the Monte Carlo casino. Though the Bitcoin in the comic may not be exactly what virtual currency would look like, it still does popularize Bitcoins.
- Hunt for Wolverine – Adamantium Agenda #1
If DC has done it, how can Marvel stay behind? About three years after the Catwoman comic, Marvel comics too made their first reference to cryptocurrencies in a panel. Here, Tony Stark, better known as Iron Man, mentions that all payments will be made in cryptocurrency when talking about a deal with some high-profile criminals.
So even Iron Man is on the Bitcoin bandwagon now.
- (ID)ENTITY – P J Manney
Award-winning author P J Manney’s 2nd book in the science fiction series has a plot that revolves around blockchain technology that is central to cryptocurrency as well. It also touches on other related topics like artificial intelligence and can be quite an interesting read.
Lest We Conclude
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Crypto is on the rise not just as an alternative currency but as a part of pop culture too. From movies to TV to music to books, every sphere has felt the need to bring crypto into its content. Pop culture has influenced a lot of people to dive deeper into the cryptocurrency ecosystem and try to understand it better. This is an indicator that cryptocurrency is catching up to the mainstream and, as The Simpsons have predicted, may actually be the cash of the future. So, if you are still skeptical about using or investing in crypto, maybe one of these movies or TV series could help.
