5 times crypto appeared in pop culture in 2023

CointelegraphPublicado em 2023-12-31Última atualização em 2024-01-02

Resumo

Society is past when even mentioning Bitcoin or Ethereum on a streaming series would make the news. Still, it’s good to look back on all the times crypto stepped out of the ecosystem and appeared in mainstream media — whether on Netflix, a comedy show, or any viral sensation.

Society is past when even mentioning Bitcoin or Ethereum on a streaming series would make the news. Still, it’s good to look back on all the times crypto stepped out of the ecosystem and appeared in mainstream media — whether on Netflix, a comedy show, or any viral sensation.
NFT balloon at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
2023 marked one of the first times in the 99-year history of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade that a design from the crypto and blockchain space was featured as either a balloon or float. In November, Viewers from around the country could see the blue cat and milk carton characters from Web3 firm Cool Cats Group’s nonfungible token (NFT) collection.
Just got back home after what was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a Character Designer.

Thank you everyone who came out to see the balloon and those who supported Cool Cats to make this moment happen. None of this would be possible without you.

WLTC pic.twitter.com/IwqCR1XvrT
— clon (@cloncast) November 26, 2023
Covering the Sam Bankman-Fried trial
Crypto’s so-called ‘Golden Boy’ Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried had already been arrested and charged by the time 2023 started, but the former FTX CEO’s luck took a turn for the worse as the year progressed. He was remanded to jail after intimidating his former girlfriend Caroline Ellison, called “the worst person I’ve ever seen do a cross-examination” by one of his defense lawyers, and convicted of seven felony counts in November.
SBF was the main subject of Michael Lewis’ Going Infinite book, released the same week his trial started. Compared to other enforcement cases in the crypto space, Bankman-Fried was seemingly the most high-profile figure, making him the target for mainstream media reports and late-night comedians:

Weekend Update Segment on Nov. 11, 2023 episode of Saturday Night Live. Source: YouTubeThe ‘Most Interesting Man in the World’ endorses Bitcoin
Actor Jonathan Goldsmith, who appeared as “The Most Interesting Man in the World” in an advertising campaign for Dos Equis beer starting in 2006, revived the character to promote Bitcoin (BTC) for Bitwise Asset Management ahead of a potential exchange-traded fund approval. Goldsmith drew a broad audience from the commercials, which included humorous “facts” about his character.
A word to the wise, from a man of few words. #bitcoinisinteresting https://t.co/wantGiAIqJ pic.twitter.com/x5MPbElEev
— Bitwise (@BitwiseInvest) December 18, 2023
Last Week Tonight
In April, John Oliver, the host of Last Week Tonight, did his second deep dive into cryptocurrency after more than five years. The comedian broke down the crypto market downturn of 2022 and related events, including the downfalls of FTX, Terra, and Celsius.
Here’s last night’s story about cryptocurrency, the crypto companies that have recently collapsed and, of course, dabbing: https://t.co/FUXVWAytRj
— Last Week Tonight (@LastWeekTonight) April 24, 2023
Futurama takes aim at Bitcoin miners
The animated sci-fi series Futurama, which went through another reboot in 2023, featured parodied a distant future in which Bitcoin mining experiences a boom in popularity after the price of the cryptocurrency rebounds after a thousand years. Jokes in the episode included moving to the Old West town “Doge City” and miners “using such colossal amounts of power that it’s ionizing the atmosphere.”

Leituras Relacionadas

Fu Peng's First Public Speech in 2026: What Exactly Are Crypto Assets? Why Did I Join the Crypto Asset Industry?

Fu Peng, a renowned macroeconomist and now Chief Economist at New火 Group, delivered his first public speech of 2026 at the Hong Kong Web3 Festival. He explained his perspective on crypto assets and why he joined the industry, framing it within the context of macroeconomic trends and financial evolution. Fu emphasized that crypto assets are transitioning from an early, belief-driven phase to a mature, institutionally integrated asset class. He drew parallels to the 1970s-80s, when technological advances (like computing) revolutionized traditional finance, leading to the rise of FICC (Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities). Similarly, current advancements in AI, data, and blockchain are reshaping finance, with crypto assets becoming part of a new "FICC + C" (C for Crypto) framework. He noted that institutional capital, including traditional hedge funds, avoided early crypto due to its speculative nature but are now engaging as regulatory clarity emerges (e.g., stablecoin laws, CFTC classifying crypto as a commodity). Fu predicted that 2025-2026 marks a turning point where crypto becomes a standardized, financially viable asset for diversified portfolios, akin to commodities or derivatives in traditional finance. Fu defined Bitcoin not as "digital gold" in a simplistic sense but as a value-preserving, financially tradable asset. He highlighted that crypto's future lies in regulated, institutional adoption, moving away from retail-dominated trading. His entry into crypto signals this maturation, where traditional finance integrates crypto into mainstream asset management.

marsbitHá 16m

Fu Peng's First Public Speech in 2026: What Exactly Are Crypto Assets? Why Did I Join the Crypto Asset Industry?

marsbitHá 16m

Cardano Gets Filecoin-Backed Storage Upgrade

Cardano's ecosystem has integrated a significant storage upgrade through a collaboration between Blockfrost and Filecoin. This new premium storage tier offers Cardano builders a decentralized, verifiable backup solution without requiring any changes to their existing workflows. The integration, which was initially announced in late 2024, has now been productized, providing enhanced data resilience for applications on Cardano. Charles Hoskinson endorsed the move, welcoming Filecoin as "one of the OGs" to the ecosystem. The service leverages Filecoin's decentralized storage network to strengthen app reliability and underscores a commitment to decentralization by coordinating two major layer-1 blockchain ecosystems.

bitcoinistHá 24m

Cardano Gets Filecoin-Backed Storage Upgrade

bitcoinistHá 24m

Justin Sun Sues Trump Family: What $75 Million Bought Was Only a Blacklist

Justin Sun, founder of Tron, has filed a lawsuit in federal court against World Liberty Financial (WLF), alleging he was made the "primary target of a fraudulent scheme" after investing $75 million. Sun claims the investment secured him an advisor title and WLFI tokens, which were later frozen by WLF, causing "hundreds of millions in losses." The dispute began in late 2024 when Sun's investment helped revive WLF's struggling token sale, which ultimately raised $550 million. Shortly after, the SEC dropped its lawsuit against Sun following Donald Trump's inauguration. However, relations soured when Sun refused WLF's demands for additional funding. In August 2025, WLF added a "blacklist" function to its smart contract, allowing it to unilaterally freeze tokens. Sun's holdings, worth approximately $107 million, were frozen, and he was threatened with token destruction. The lawsuit highlights WLF's structure, which directs 75% of token sale profits to the Trump family, who had earned $1 billion by December 2025. WLF's CEO is Zach Witkoff, son of U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. The project faces scrutiny for opaque operations, including a controversial loan arrangement on the Dolomite platform, co-founded by a WLF advisor. Despite Sun's history with the SEC, the case underscores centralization risks within DeFi, as WLF controls governance and holds powers to freeze assets arbitrarily. Sun's tokens remain frozen as legal proceedings begin.

marsbitHá 24m

Justin Sun Sues Trump Family: What $75 Million Bought Was Only a Blacklist

marsbitHá 24m

$500 to Buy OpenAI Stock: Silicon Valley's Most Respectable Liquidity Invitation

Silicon Valley's largest venture capital platform, AngelList, has launched a new fund called USVC, allowing U.S. retail investors to buy into high-profile AI companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI with a minimum investment of $500—no accredited investor status required. Promoted by AngelList co-founder Naval Ravikant, the fund is framed as an opportunity for ordinary people to access high-growth private tech investments traditionally reserved for VCs. However, critics argue it functions more like an exit vehicle for early insiders. USVC acquires shares not through primary rounds but largely via secondary transactions—purchasing stakes from early investors, VC funds, and employees looking to cash out at peak valuations. With companies like xAI heavily weighted in the portfolio, the fund effectively channels retail money into providing liquidity for insiders who entered at much lower valuations. The fund’s structure raises concerns: shares are illiquid, with no secondary market, and buybacks are limited and discretionary. The actual annual fee reaches 3.61%, far above the advertised 1% management fee. This model parallels the "low float, high fully diluted valuation" strategy seen in crypto, where early investors profit by selling to latecomers at inflated prices. The timing—alongside similar moves by platforms like Robinhood—suggests that Silicon Valley’s sudden interest in retail inclusion may be less about democratizing access and more about securing exits for insiders.

marsbitHá 55m

$500 to Buy OpenAI Stock: Silicon Valley's Most Respectable Liquidity Invitation

marsbitHá 55m

Bitcoin Approaches $80,000 Mark, ETF Funds Continue Inflow, Is the Crypto Market Shifting?

Bitcoin is approaching the $80,000 mark, reaching a new high since February, while Ethereum remains around $2,400 with some altcoins surging significantly. Over the past 24 hours, $462 million in futures contracts were liquidated, with shorts accounting for $353 million. The market fear and greed index has risen to 60, indicating neutral sentiment. Global risk assets continue to rebound, with U.S. stock markets hitting record highs. The S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones all saw gains. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar index remains stable around 98.61. Geopolitical developments, including a temporary extension of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, have influenced market dynamics, though tensions persist. Bitcoin spot ETFs have seen six consecutive days of net inflows, with a peak single-day inflow of $663.91 million. Ethereum spot ETFs also recorded nine straight days of net inflows. Stablecoin market capitalization has risen to $320.6 billion, with a weekly net inflow of $635 million. Market analysts note that Bitcoin's recovery is supported by renewed spot demand and ETF inflows. However, high realized profits and low volatility suggest caution, with resistance expected near $80,000. Institutional and ETF-driven demand is strengthening market support, indicating a potential shift toward a new trading range with increased upward momentum.

marsbitHá 55m

Bitcoin Approaches $80,000 Mark, ETF Funds Continue Inflow, Is the Crypto Market Shifting?

marsbitHá 55m

Trading

Spot
Futuros
活动图片

Categorias popularesright-arrow

Etiquetas Popularesright-arrow