{
  "id": 2173750,
  "title": "‘Crypto really preys on men’: Why former OC star Ben McKenzie won’t quit his crusade against digital currencies",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/crypto-really-preys-on-men-why-former-oc-star-ben-mckenzie-wont-quit",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-20T16:25:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Financial Post",
    "slug": "financial-post",
    "url": "https://financialpost.com/investing/why-ben-mckenzie-wont-quit-crusade-against-crypto"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Actress Ben McKenzie, best known for her roles in The O.C. and Gotham, has transformed into a vocal critic of cryptocurrency. McKenzie's expertise in spotting deception, honed by his acting career, led him to research and dissect the crypto industry after its 2021 hype. He labels it a Ponzi scheme, a \"generational hallucination,\" and a \"quasi-cult.\" McKenzie's critique culminated in a book, Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud, co-written with journalist Jacob Silverman in 2023. Now, McKenzie turns his camera on the world of digital currencies, directing a documentary titled Everyone Is Lying to You for Money. The film delves into the rise and collapse of platforms like FTX and Celsius Network, exposing the tactics used to lure the general public into the digital currency world. Speaking to The Financial Post, McKenzie shared his views on crypto, the true beneficiaries, and why scam victims often remain believers.",
  "summary": "'The winners are the insiders, the people that issue the currencies and run the exchanges. The losers are everybody else'",
  "key_points": [
    "Former \"The O.C.\" star Ben McKenzie criticizes cryptocurrency.",
    "McKenzie labels crypto as a Ponzi scheme and generational hallucination.",
    "His documentary \"Everyone Is Lying to You for Money\" exposes crypto scams."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}