06-04-2026IMPACT COUNCIL

Everyone is lying to you about crypto

The real crypto story is still being told.

[Photo: Getty Images]

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of top leaders and experts who pay dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership, and more.

Another crypto hit piece has arrived. In Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, actor Benjamin McKenzie—known for starring in the 2000s teen soap The O.C.—walks through a familiar narrative: Crypto is all hype, scams, and speculation. Sure, it’s a compelling story. It’s also an inaccurate one.

We’ve seen this show before. Spotlight the worst behavior, generalize it across the entire technology, and leave out the experiences of real people using the tool in far more ordinary ways.

Tens of millions of Americans are using crypto today to build financial independence, save for the future, and power their businesses and passions. They’re sending it to loved ones, spending it at shops, and donating it to causes they care about.

BAD ACTORS IN EVERY INDUSTRY

None of this is to dismiss the very real harms that some may have........

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