Comedies featuring cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies have become a global phenomenon, capturing the interest and imagination of people from all walks of life. With their rising popularity, it's no surprise that cryptocurrencies have found their way into the realm of British sitcoms and comedy films.

Cryptocurrencies have become a hot topic in recent years, generating many headlines - and predictably, filtering into popular culture alongside. There are now countless people looking to get into crypto trading, and loads of sites that provide useful advice. For example, you can find more than one guide to investing in Tether, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and others.

Here are a few instances of British comedy to have already featured cryptocurrency in some form or other.

The IT Crowd

The IT Crowd is a beloved British sitcom that revolves around the antics of the small IT team at a fictional company. In the unofficial finale episode, The Internet Is Coming, lead characters Jen, Roy and Moss stumble upon a mysterious box apparently containing Internet 2.0 and mistakenly believe it to be a new kind of digital currency. The episode humorously depicts the characters' cluelessness about cryptocurrencies, as they try to trade and spend it with amusing consequences. This episode showcases the popular sitcom's trademark blend of geek humour and social satire, and, airing way back in 2013, is an early example of digital currency on screen.

Black Mirror

Black Mirror, the Channel 4 and Netflix anthology series known for its dark and thought-provoking themes, also delves into the world of cryptocurrencies in Hated In The Nation. In this episode, a virtual currency called Merit is introduced, which allows users to rate and publicly shame individuals. It explores the dark consequences of online mob mentality and the potential misuse of cryptocurrencies for social control. While not an out-and-out comedy, Black Mirror incorporates elements of satire and irony amidst dark humour to deliver its message about the dangers of a decreasingly analogue society driven by digital currencies.

Four Lions

Four Lions is a British dark comedy film that follows a group of inept would-be terrorists as they plan an attack in London. While not centred around cryptocurrencies, the film humorously incorporates digital currencies in a subplot. The characters use Bitcoin to finance their operation, but their lack of understanding of how cryptocurrencies work leads to comical situations and mishaps. The cult favourite film satirises the absurdity of extremism and showcases how easily technology, including cryptocurrencies, can be misused.

People Just Do Nothing

People Just Do Nothing is a mockumentary-style sitcom that parodies pirate radio, urban music and a clueless group of youths in West London. In the episode Dubplate, the characters find themselves accidentally becoming involved in a cryptocurrency scam, promoting a fictitious currency called KuruptCoin as a means of funding their station. The episode humorously highlights the characters' lack of knowledge about cryptocurrencies and their misadventures in the world of digital finance. The satire in People Just Do Nothing provides a comical take on the intersection of underground culture and emerging technologies.

British comedy on film and television alike has embraced the presence of cryptocurrencies in modern society, using them as a comedic device to explore themes of technology, finance, and human behaviour. Through satire and irony, these productions add a light-hearted touch to the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrencies, making them a part of the comedic tapestry of popular culture.