Crypto Cameos in Pop Culture

The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs has opened up cryptocurrencies to a broader audience, energizing the crypto community and nudging digital currencies closer to mainstream adoption. However, as pivotal as such events are, pop culture plays a significant role in shaping the public's perception of crypto.

Art and media offer a platform for creators to:

• Share their own and others' views on cryptocurrencies;
• Envision the future of the crypto industry;
• Craft fictional narratives within the crypto context.

Crypto enthusiasts particularly appreciate such nods. Imagine a series where a character laments their missed opportunities in Bitcoin investment or reflects on their unsuccessful crypto ventures. These references create a connection between the audience and the character, attracting new viewers.

The Simpsons

“The Simpsons,” an animated comedy series that debuted in 1989, frequently incorporates real-life references, including celebrities, companies, movies, and music. It's unsurprising that, among the 340+ episodes aired since Bitcoin's inception, several have featured cryptocurrencies.

For instance, the Halloween special “Treehouse of Horror XXXIV” aired on November 5, 2023, included a segment titled “Wild Barts Can’t Be Token,” taking the Simpsons on an adventure in NFT Land.

Scene from “Treehouse of Horror XXXIV”. Source: bitcoin.com

The plot kicks off with the closure of Springfield's art museum, where all exhibits are set to be digitized into NFTs. Learning of this, Bart and Homer Simpson sneak into the museum to create their own NFT using a household painting. The story escalates when Bart accidentally becomes an NFT valued at one and a half million dollars.

The episode humorously references iconic NFT collections like CryptoPunks, Doodles, and Bored Ape Yacht Club, through which the writers comment on society's reaction to NFTs and crypto.

Interestingly, in a nod to blockchain technology, the 13th episode of season 31 features animated Jim Parsons from “The Big Bang Theory” explaining blockchain fundamentals, showcasing Parsons' crypto savvy.

Additionally, the series sprinkles in more subtle crypto references. In the 18th episode of season 32, Bitcoin's fluctuating value is symbolized by a green infinity sign, reflecting Bitcoin's $58k price at the time of airing.

Scene from “Burger Kings,” aired April 11, 2021. Source: u.today

Another memorable crypto mention in “The Simpsons” is a satirical billboard that reads, “Send me your lunch money online! Accepting Bitcoin,” featuring the school bully, highlighting the series' playful take on cryptocurrency trends.

Futurama

“Futurama” is an acclaimed sci-fi animated series exploring futuristic concepts, interplanetary journeys, and interactions among aliens, robots, and humans. Premiering in 1999, the show's production continues to this day.

The episode “How the West Was 101001” from season 11 features characters venturing into selling toxic metals for cryptocurrency mining in “Doge City,” a playful reference to the meme coin DOGE. This episode offers the creators' speculative take on the crypto industry's future.

Despite its 3023 setting, Bitcoin is depicted as extremely volatile, and the episode humorously critiques cryptocurrency regulations with lines like, “It’s pretty lawless out here in crypto country, so put on your protective headgear.”

This storyline is a nod to the 1963 film “How the West Was Won,” drawing parallels between the Gold Rush and a “crypto fever” in Doge City. The binary number 101001 translates to forty one, cleverly mirroring the film's title when spoken quickly.

Billions

“Billions” delves into the high-stakes world of the U.S. investment sector. A key character is prosecutor Chuck Rhoades, a law enforcer who combats financial magnates.

In the first episode of season 5, he targets the crypto market, focusing on illegal Bitcoin mining operations. An interrogation scene encapsulates societal skepticism toward cryptocurrencies, highlighted by a dialogue between a miner and Rhoades.

So your multitude of computers and servers could solve some abstract math equations resulting in the mining of Bitcoin? It’s worth millions right now, whoopee! But it’s backed by what? Nada,

Rhoades skeptically inquires.

The miner retorts, “What’s the Dollar backed by since we went off the gold standard?”

Airing in May 2020 when BTC was valued at approximately $8,500, the episode resonated with the crypto community, sparking discussions on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and more, even catching the attention of Binance's then-CEO, Changpeng Zhao.

The Big Bang Theory

“The Big Bang Theory,” a beloved sitcom, revolves around a group of scientist friends in Pasadena, California. The ninth episode of season 11, “The Bitcoin Entanglement”, recounts the characters' early Bitcoin mining adventures in 2010.

The episode cleverly begins with a 2010 flashback, where one friend in a comic book store asks about paying with bitcoins. The group splits into two camps: enthusiasts and skeptics.

The plot unfolds in 2017, when the price of 1 BTC was $5,000. One character recalls mining several BTCs with friends seven years prior, likely still on his PC. Inspired by the prospect of easy riches, they embark on a quest to recover their digital “gold.”

To keep the episode's conclusion a surprise, we won't reveal the ending. While the exact number of mined BTC remains undisclosed, a Reddit user speculated they had found 10,000 coins, worth $430 million today.

Silicon Valley

Season 5's episode 7 of “Silicon Valley,” dives into engineer Richard Hendricks' journey to establish an IT startup, highlighting the process of launching an Initial Coin Offering (ICO). This episode, which aired on May 6, 2018, came shortly after the ICO frenzy of 2017.

Facing setbacks with their Series B funding, Pied Piper's team, a blockchain startup, opts for an ICO as their next move. The startup's lead architect even presents at Bloomberg Tech, advocating for the benefits of token sales.

A standout scene takes place at a landfill, where the character Russ Hanneman shares his experience of orchestrating 36 ICOs. When queried about their success, he quips, “It’s not always about money. Sometimes it’s about wisdom.”

Despite losing a billion dollars, one of the ICOs succeeded, netting $300 million. However, the flash drive containing the tokens was mistakenly thrown away with some torn pants.