Ben McKenzie’s directorial debut, Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, arrives in theaters as a pointed critique of cryptocurrency’s role in modern finance. The documentary examines how digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and meme coins function primarily as speculative instruments rather than legitimate currencies, arguing that their value is driven by manipulation and hype rather than utility.
Drawing from interviews and on-the-ground reporting, McKenzie contends that the vast majority of cryptocurrency holdings are controlled by a slight group of wealthy investors who can influence prices through coordinated trading. This concentration of power, he argues, leaves retail participants vulnerable to losses, especially when markets are subject to insider activity and pump-and-dump schemes.
The film highlights specific examples of tokens tied to public figures, including those associated with the Trump family, which McKenzie characterizes as emblematic of the sector’s shift toward novelty, and exploitation. He describes such coins not as innovations but as gambling devices where outcomes are often predetermined by those with early access or large holdings.
McKenzie further asserts that cryptocurrency’s two dominant real-world applications are gambling and illicit activity, citing the prevalence of scams, ransomware payments, and unregulated exchanges. He challenges the narrative that crypto democratizes finance, suggesting instead that it replicates and amplifies existing inequalities under the guise of decentralization.
Released in April 2026, Everyone Is Lying to You for Money positions itself as a counterbalance to the promotional content that dominates crypto discourse. By framing the technology as a system designed to extract value from the many for the benefit of the few, the documentary invites viewers to reconsider the risks and realities behind digital asset investment.