Five Crypto Moments That Shaped Pop Culture in 2024

Bitcoin moved from the margins of finance to the center of popular culture in 2024, surfacing across documentaries, music, reality television, and live entertainment. Its growing footprint in mainstream storytelling reflected a broader shift: crypto was no longer a niche hobby but a cultural force shaping conversations, aesthetics, and public imagination. This year’s standout moments demonstrate how cryptocurrency, especially Bitcoin, has penetrated entertainment narratives, influenced political discourse, and sparked discussions about technology, regulation, and the social meaning of digital assets. Below, five pivotal moments illustrate how crypto left an imprint on pop culture in 2024, redefining what it means for digital money to intersect with everyday life.

Table of Contents

Money Electric: HBO’s documentary pushes Bitcoin into a broader conversation

In October 2024, audiences were drawn to an ambitious documentary project that aimed to trace the birth of Bitcoin and probe the enduring mystery surrounding its creator, known by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. The film, directed by a filmmaker with prior experience exploring complex conspiracy narratives, set out to blend rigorous investigative journalism with cinematic storytelling. It sought to illuminate Bitcoin’s roots, the philosophy behind decentralized money, and the evolving dynamic between the burgeoning cryptocurrency ecosystem and the traditional financial system.

A central thread of the documentary was the exploration of Bitcoin’s origins and the lasting question of Nakamoto’s true identity. The film juxtaposed archival context with contemporary perspectives, weaving in insights from long-standing crypto veterans who have shaped the industry’s trajectory. Interviews featured notable figures connected to foundational projects and the broader blockchain landscape, offering viewers a spectrum of viewpoints on how Bitcoin emerged and why it continues to provoke debate among developers, investors, and policymakers alike.

Crucially, the documentary did not shy away from the friction points that have defined Bitcoin’s path. It examined clashes with regulators, the ongoing contest over how digital currencies should be integrated into or kept separate from established financial infrastructures, and the policy debates that influence how crypto markets operate. These themes underscored a larger narrative: as crypto gains political clout, its advocates and critics alike are increasingly shaping conversations that reach beyond technologists and traders to touch national policy and electoral considerations.

One provocative element of the film involved a speculative theory about a prominent Bitcoin developer’s possible link to Nakamoto. While the theory drew attention and sparked discussions, the film also captured the fervent rebuttals from those who deny such connections, highlighting the uncertain and often contested nature of online theories surrounding Nakamoto’s identity. The resulting discourse demonstrated how a deep curiosity about digital money can morph into ethical questions about how investigations are conducted, what evidence is considered legitimate, and how sensational hypotheses influence public perception.

Reaction to the documentary followed a familiar arc: praise from certain audiences for its depth and production quality, alongside critique from others who challenged its central claims or questioned the ethics of its investigative choices. Regardless of reception, the film succeeded in spotlighting the growing political influence of crypto investors and their potential to shape electoral dynamics in the 2024 U.S. presidential landscape. It also contributed to a broader cultural conversation about who gets to speak for the crypto community and how journalists should handle the line between storytelling and speculation when investigating a decentralized phenomenon.

Overall, Money Electric functioned as a cultural milestone in 2024 by bringing Bitcoin into a mainstream documentary context. It presented a narrative that intertwined technology, finance, and regulation while inviting viewers to consider not only Bitcoin’s technical underpinnings but also its social and political implications. In doing so, it reinforced the idea that crypto’s evolution is as much about human networks, governance debates, and cultural sentiment as it is about code and markets.

Subtopics and deeper angles to consider in this segment include:

The documentary’s approach to explaining Bitcoin’s technical concepts to a general audience without sacrificing accuracy.
How interview dynamics with veteran crypto figures shaped viewers’ understanding of the ecosystem’s ethos and divergent viewpoints.
The portrayal of regulatory tensions and the implications for consumer protection, market integrity, and innovation.
The narrative arc around Nakamoto and the ethics of online sleuthing in the context of open-source, decentralized technology.
The wider cultural resonance of Bitcoin as a symbol of financial autonomy, privacy, and technological disruption.
The documentary’s potential impact on public opinion and policy discussions about digital currencies in a post-2024 political climate.

Money Electric thus stood as a concrete example of how a long-form film can translate the abstract and often technical world of cryptocurrency into a compelling cultural conversation. It highlighted the ongoing negotiation between crypto enthusiasts who celebrate decentralization and the institutions that seek to regulate it, a tension that continues to define crypto’s place in global finance and popular culture.

Kendrick Lamar’s GNX track signals Bitcoin’s foothold in hip-hop and beyond

In 2024, Bitcoin didn’t stay confined to trading desks and blockchain labs; it surfaced in the cadence of contemporary music, illustrating how digital money narratives have become woven into mainstream storytelling. One vivid instance occurred when celebrated artist Kendrick Lamar incorporated Bitcoin themes into a track from his latest album GNX. While the song’s primary narrative centers on broader themes of power, influence, and success, the lyricism embedded a subtle but meaningful nod to cryptocurrency as a symbol of economic leverage and modern wealth creation.

The lyric presented a compact reflection on the promises and pitfalls of financial technology, using Bitcoin as a shorthand for the broader idea of trustless value transfer and the potential for programmable money to reshape incentives and exchange. Rather than delivering a didactic message about markets, the verse used Bitcoin as a metaphor for how digital assets can enable or disrupt perceived financial hierarchies, and how access to capital can be amplified through new technologies and networks.

This moment, though modest, marked a notable shift in hip-hop as a cultural engine: the overt inclusion of cryptocurrency in a high-profile artist’s work signaled that crypto has moved from being a niche topic discussed in specialized forums to an element of mainstream cultural lexicon. It also underscored a broader storytelling trend in which musicians leverage crypto’s mystique to illustrate themes of power, risk, and ambition, thereby normalizing cryptocurrency in the public imagination.

The implications of this cultural crossover extend beyond music. When a globally influential artist integrates crypto imagery or language into widely consumed media, it can influence fans’ perceptions of digital assets as a legitimate and aspirational facet of modern life. It helps mainstream audiences understand Bitcoin not just as an investment instrument but as part of a broader cultural conversation about wealth, technology, and the way money moves in the digital age.

Other artists who have touched on cryptocurrency in public discourse—such as those who previously used Bitcoin in association with gambling or other digital economies—help reinforce a narrative in which crypto is a multi-sensory element of contemporary culture. The Lamar moment, though discreet in its textual footprint, contributed to a broader trend where crypto becomes a shorthand for innovation, resistance to gatekeeping, and the evolving art of narrative wealth.

Key talking points from this segment include:

Bitcoin’s function as a cultural symbol of wealth and power within the entertainment industry.
The role of hip-hop and popular music in normalizing crypto language and concepts for a diverse audience.
The potential impact on crypto adoption as more audiences encounter references to digital assets in music and media.
The relationship between celebrity storytelling and the broader discourse about financial autonomy, privacy, and market access.
The ongoing cross-pollination between finance technology and mainstream culture that helps shape public opinion and policy debates.

Kendrick Lamar’s GNX moment illustrates how crypto’s cultural penetration can happen through artistic expression—without requiring technical literacy—as audiences encounter the idea of Bitcoin as a contemporary tool of influence, mobilization, and cultural storytelling. It reinforces the notion that cryptocurrency is not solely an investment phenomenon but a cultural artifact that resonates with the themes and aspirations celebrated in music, art, and media.

The America Loves Crypto series: live events marrying entertainment with crypto advocacy

As the 2024 U.S. presidential cycle intensified, crypto advocacy found a high-profile stage in a concert-driven campaign designed to sway opinion and broaden policy dialogue. The Stand With Crypto initiative, tied to a major crypto platform, organized a touring “America Loves Crypto” concert series aimed at energizing voters around candidates proposing crypto-friendly policy reforms. This initiative fused political engagement with entertainment, turning music venues into forums for discussion about digital currencies, blockchain innovation, and the regulatory environment.

A centerpiece of the tour was an electrifying live performance by a legendary rock act, whose 45-minute set spanned 11 of the group’s most iconic hits. The concert demonstrated how a mainstream event could attract a broad audience while embedding crypto messaging into the experience. In addition to performances, the series featured other artists known for diverse audiences, blending genres to attract fans who might not otherwise engage with crypto topics.

In a forward-looking twist, attendees were offered a free experience that integrated crypto technology directly into the event. Attendees could download a digital wallet and claim an NFT as part of their VIP access, enabling a tiered experience with additional perks. The use of NFTs and wallet-based access created a tangible intersection between entertainment and crypto infrastructure, illustrating how digital assets could function as both a collectable and a gateway to exclusive experiences.

The “America Loves Crypto” series underscored several broader implications for how pop culture can influence public perception and policy:

It demonstrated how entertainment venues can become platforms for civic engagement when paired with policy discussions favorable to emerging technologies.
The integration of crypto-native logistics—wallets, NFT-based perks, and secure, verifiable access—showed a real-world use case for blockchain-enabled experiences outside purely financial contexts.
It highlighted the potential for collaboration between political advocacy groups and entertainment brands to shape messaging at scale, leveraging the emotional and cultural reach of live performances.
The initiative raised questions about the role of celebrities and performers in political advocacy and how audiences interpret crypto endorsements within entertainment settings.

This convergence of culture and crypto in a concert format reveals how the industry is maturing from a technical ecosystem into a cultural phenomenon with direct implications for how audiences learn about, engage with, and potentially adopt digital currencies in daily life. It reflects crypto’s rising legitimacy as a part of mainstream conversation, capable of influencing attitudes toward policy, technology adoption, and the future of financial systems.

Killer Whales: a Web3-focused reality show that blends mentorship with crypto education

2024 introduced a reality TV concept tuned to the crypto audience: a show designed to showcase startup founders and their Web3 projects while emphasizing mentorship over traditional investment outcomes. The program, produced by Hello Labs and distributed on major streaming platforms, positioned crypto entrepreneurship at the heart of its format. Rather than pursuing a typical investment pitch, the show centered on mentorship, guidance from seasoned industry players, and the exposure that comes from public presentation on a high-profile stage.

Participants pitched their projects to a panel of experts and influencers with deep ties to crypto, finance, and technology. The panel included notable figures who bring practical experience and strategic insight, offering feedback intended to help founders scale their ideas within a competitive market. Rather than a simple funding mechanism, the program offered a tangible, outcome-based benefit: projects that earned favorable “swim” votes received access to a marketing accelerator package from CoinMarketCap worth up to a substantial amount. This arrangement provided founders with a credible platform for growth, visibility, and practical support that could turn promising ideas into viable ventures.

The show’s blend of entrepreneurial drama and technical education appealed to a broad audience, attracting crypto enthusiasts who relish deep dives into blockchain concepts and startup dynamics, as well as reality-TV fans drawn to personal stories, competition, and transformation. The format thus served a dual purpose: it educated mainstream viewers about core crypto notions such as tokenomics, governance, and business models, while also offering a compelling narrative arc grounded in real-world entrepreneurship.

Key themes explored through the Killer Whales format include:

The educational potential of reality TV for demystifying blockchain technology and crypto economics.
The mentoring model as a powerful catalyst for startup growth within the Web3 ecosystem.
The role of marketing accelerators and partnerships with major data and analytics platforms in propelling crypto projects forward.
How mainstream audiences perceive and engage with blockchain-based ventures, including the challenges and opportunities they represent.
The balance between entertainment value and substantive content when presenting technical topics to a diverse audience.

Killer Whales thus contributed to pop culture by providing a platform for crypto startups to gain visibility and by introducing broader audiences to critical concepts like tokenomics and governance. It demonstrated that the media ecosystem is increasingly willing to blend business education with entertainment, creating a space where audiences can learn about emerging technologies through engaging storytelling and mentor-driven pathways to success.

Netflix’s Biggest Heist Ever: true crime meets cryptocurrency with Bitfinex

The Netflix documentary Biggest Heist Ever offered a gripping crossover between true crime storytelling and cryptocurrency history. The film chronicled the notorious Bitfinex hack of 2016, a landmark incident that exposed the vulnerabilities and potential scale of criminal activity within digital asset markets. By focusing on the people at the center of the hack—their identities, schemes, and subsequent actions—the documentary merged investigative journalism with a technical examination of how the theft occurred and why it mattered for the crypto ecosystem.

Central figures in the narrative included Heather “Razzlekhan” Morgan and Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein, a couple whose high-profile persona and alleged involvement in laundering billions in stolen Bitcoin propelled them into the public eye. Their quirky public images, including crypto-themed performances and media appearances, added a layer of cultural intrigue to the crime story. The documentary used these personal elements to illustrate broader questions about ethics, security, and the human dimensions of cybercrime within the digital asset space.

From a technical standpoint, the film offered an accessible exploration of how the Bitfinex breach unfolded, what security failures allowed the theft to occur, and how the crypto community and regulatory environment responded in the aftermath. It combined interviews with cybersecurity experts, former associates, and law enforcement officials to reconstruct the sequence of events and to analyze the implications for market integrity, privacy, and trust in digital currencies.

The documentary also touched on the broader geopolitical and national security implications associated with the individuals involved in the case. It raised discussions about possible ties to foreign actors and the complexities of prosecuting cybercrime in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. While the individuals themselves became the subject of sensational media attention, the film kept its focus on the systemic lessons—the importance of robust security practices, transparent governance, and credible incident response within crypto ecosystems.

This Netflix entry reinforced crypto’s fascination with crime and intrigue, reinforcing the popular culture trope that the digital world can harbor dramatic narratives with real-world consequences. It contributed to a growing corpus of media that explores how crypto security incidents shape public perception, influence policy discussions, and drive demand for more resilient infrastructure within the blockchain space.

Consider these takeaways from Biggest Heist Ever:

The popularity of crypto-centered true crime stories and their appeal to broad audiences.
The way high-profile incidents reveal systemic weaknesses and the ongoing need for improved security, auditing, and incident response in digital asset platforms.
The impact of media portrayals on public understanding of crypto risks, and how storytelling can shape policy debates about regulation and compliance.
The human dimension of crypto crime, including the complex personas involved and how they captivate viewers while illustrating practical lessons for the industry.

Together, these five moments—from investigative documentaries to music, live concerts, reality television, and true-crime storytelling—demonstrate that cryptocurrency entered mainstream pop culture not merely as a financial instrument but as a pervasive narrative force. The year 2024 showed that crypto can be analyzed, debated, celebrated, and even dramatized across diverse media formats, shaping how people think about money, technology, and the future of finance.

Conclusion
In 2024, cryptocurrency cemented its status as a major cultural force by intersecting with mainstream media, music, politics, and television. The year’s standout moments—from a major HBO documentary probing Bitcoin’s origins and ethics to hip-hop’s subtle crypto nods, from concert campaigns that fused fundraising and policy dialogue to reality television that educates about blockchain concepts, and from high-stakes crime stories that reveal security lessons—collectively illustrated how digital money has moved from the margins to the center of public discourse. These cross-media appearances underscore crypto’s evolving role: as a driver of innovation in finance, as a symbol in cultural storytelling, and as a factor in political and regulatory conversations. They also highlight the importance of responsible media coverage that balances curiosity with critical analysis, ensuring that audiences gain a nuanced understanding of the technology, its risks, and its potential to redefine the value exchange in the digital era.

As crypto continues to integrate into everyday life, its presence in pop culture is likely to deepen. Viewers, readers, and listeners are increasingly encountering Bitcoin, blockchain concepts, and crypto policy in familiar formats—documentaries, music, live shows, and streaming narratives. This cultural integration has the potential to broaden awareness, encourage informed discussion, and foster more thoughtful engagement with digital assets. Whether viewed as entertainment, education, or policy-inspired influence, the convergence of cryptocurrency and pop culture in 2024 marks a meaningful milestone in the ongoing story of finance, technology, and society.