What A Day Why You Shouldn't Buy Into The Crypto Trend
23 snips
May 7, 2026 
Ben McKenzie, actor, filmmaker, and author who investigates cryptocurrency, breaks down who crypto really serves. He calls it a get-rich promise and discusses its use by true believers, gamblers, and criminals. He explains how political backing, especially from Trump, boosted legitimacy and prices. He also outlines the regulatory fights and where crypto could head next.
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Crypto Is A Get Rich Scheme Not Real Money
- Cryptocurrency functions more as a get-rich scheme wrapped in technobabble than a working monetary system.
- Ben McKenzie argues Bitcoin's primary historical use was Silk Road payments and it never scaled as everyday money, serving mainly speculation and black-market transactions.
Attempts To Spend Bitcoin Keep Failing
- Ben McKenzie recounts repeatedly trying to pay with Bitcoin at conferences and in El Salvador and getting refused, highlighting lack of real-world acceptance.
- He traces Bitcoin's early survival to Silk Road use and later mentions Jeffrey Epstein funding core development.
Crypto's Two Main Users Are Gamblers And Criminals
- Crypto splits into retail gamblers betting prices and criminals using it to fund illicit activity, making its ecosystem dual and dangerous.
- McKenzie cites Russian oligarchs, ISIS funding, and North Korean hackers using crypto for sanctions evasion and weapons programs.