The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin

Movie review by Amanda Nojadera, Common Sense Media
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Common Sense says

age 13+

Informative, engaging look at currency's origins and growth.

NR 2014 96 minutes
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 82 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin explores the various ways that Bitcoin, a form of open-source digital currency, can be used. The movie covers topics like the potential advantages of Bitcoin and the currency's ability to grow within the global economy, as well as some of the controversy surrounding the role that Bitcoin plays in the Silk Road, often referred to as the Bitcoin black market. Plenty of recognizable brands are mentioned during the documentary, like WordPress and Reddit (two of the first websites to accept Bitcoin as a form of payment), plus references to older forms of Internet technology like Netscape, Napster, and an early version of America Online. There are a few uses of "s--t," as well as scenes of people drinking and smoking in social settings. A drug dealer referred to as "Mr. Bitcoin" is shown with marijuana and using the Silk Road at an Internet cafe.

Community Reviews

lesley12
lesley12 Adult
October 13, 2022
age 13+

Best Help Team

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This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
4 people found this helpful.
Alan46
Alan46 Adult
August 27, 2022
age 16+

Right Answer

Hacknetcyberprofessor10 {@} GMAILCOM has the best crypto recovery program, best expert you can trust when it comes to recovering your assets. i got scammed by a broker on IG who promised over 50% profits on investments. i considered this move and invested almost all my life savings, cause i keep investing and and profits went high, When it was time to get thr return of my investment , i coulnd withdraw and they kept asking for more money , they took all my investments and savings in USDT and BNB . i lost hope . i work with fear and almost got fired at work . i saw a review of someone in same situation saying they got help from Hacknetcyberprofessor10 (@) gmailcom and i decided to try , i was amazed when he recovered my funds , i couldn't believe it , Now i know there are solutions to problems only when you have the right link. reach out also on whatsapp; +7 909 707 0928

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
4 people found this helpful.
See all 82 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer form of digital currency created by an unknown developer who's known as Satoshi Nakamoto. Using Bitcoin, transactions can easily be sent over the Internet and are recorded in a public ledger known as the Block Chain. THE RISE AND RISE OF BITCOIN, which premiered at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, spans multiple years, tracing the currency's evolution from the first global Bitcoin transaction in 2010 (10,000 bitcoins in exchange for two Papa John's pizzas) through it's exponential growth in 2013. The film showcases the various ways that early Bitcoin users -- like 35-year-old computer programmer Daniel Mross, plus CEOs of Bitcoin startups, entrepreneurs, and investors -- have incorporated this revolutionary technology into their daily lives through Bitcoin mining, the creation of Bitcoin startups, and eventually its introduction into mainstream consumerism.

Is It Any Good?

The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin is an excellent introduction for those unfamiliar with the digital currency. While the documentary stresses the advantages of a decentralized system of banking, it doesn't hide Bitcoin's troubling association with the Silk Road (a now-defunct site that served as an online black market) and other illegal activities. Instead, the film shows how this online currency has continued to adapt and rise above its setbacks.

Although viewers may still have questions afterward, the use of animated visuals to explain how Bitcoin transactions work and interviews with some of Bitcoin's earliest users and pioneers provides a basic understanding of the currency's role in today's society. There isn't necessarily a conclusion to this documentary, but, then again, Bitcoin is still a growing form of technology that many hope will continue to thrive.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Bitcoin. How familiar were you with this form of currency before watching the documentary? Did watching increase your understanding of what it is and how it works?

  • Do you think that people should be able to control own their finances, instead of using a central authority like a bank?

  • After watching the documentary, what would you say are some of the advantages and disadvantages to Bitcoin?

  • What do you think the filmmakers hope to accomplish with their movie? Should documentaries be wholly objective, or is there room for opinion?

Movie Details

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