Netflix’s The Altruists puts the FTX scandal on screen, but its romantic framing is already drawing criticism.
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Key Takeaways
Netflix’s The Altruists premieres Nov. 19, starring Anthony Boyle and Julia Garner.
Crypto enthusiasts have slammed the trailer for its romantic framing of Sam Bankman-Fried and Caroline Ellison.
The series dramatizes the FTX scandal that led to Bankman-Fried’s fraud conviction and 25-year sentence.
Netflix’s upcoming Sam Bankman-Fried drama is drawing criticism from crypto commentators who say its romantic treatment of the FTX scandal risks rewriting the story behind billions of dollars in stolen customer funds.
The streamer released the official trailer for The Altruists on Oct. 8, ahead of its Nov. 19 premiere.
Anthony Boyle plays the disgraced FTX founder, opposite Julia Garner as former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison.
But the response to the announcement has been a barrage of criticism, ranging from the casting choices to the storyline.
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“None of this happened, esp not how it’s being depicted here,” the account wrote.
The same reply argued that Ellison joined Alameda Research rather than operating exclusively as one half of a romantic partnership with Bankman-Fried.
Even Samson Mow clapped back at the trailer | Source: X (@Excellion)
Another account, @AraRawr11, criticized the writing and challenged the presentation of the pair as a Bonnie-and-Clyde-style duo from the outset.
Others responded with critical jokes and jabs.
Crypto wallet provider Phantom suggested Netflix’s marketing team should have released the trailer on Oct. 10, while Bitcoin advocate Samson Mow replied: “1) What”
One user went as far as to call it a “crypto humiliation ritual.”
Netflix Puts the Relationship at the Center
The romantic focus is a deliberate creative choice.
In an interview with Netflix, co-showrunner Graham Moore explained that dramatization allows the production to explore private interactions beyond the public record.
Co-showrunner Jacqueline Hoyt similarly described the relationship and the characters’ motivations as central to the adaptation.
Some responses slammed the trailer as an “embarrassment” to crypto and demanded a portrayal that better reflects the business’s history and the financial harm it has caused.
The series draws on New York Magazine reporting.
Behind the Drama Was an $8 Billion Customer Fraud
The real scandal went far beyond a failed relationship.
After FTX collapsed in November 2022, a jury convicted Bankman-Fried on seven fraud and conspiracy counts in November 2023.
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Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
