The NFB is committed to respecting your privacy

We use cookies to ensure that our site works efficiently, as well as for advertising purposes.

If you do not wish to have your information used in this way, you can modify your browser settings before continuing your visit.

Learn more
Cryptocurrencies and the New World of Finance

Cryptocurrencies and the New World of Finance

Cryptocurrencies and the New World of Finance

Do you regret not buying Bitcoin at $50 now that it’s hit a high of $81,047*? Experiencing some serious FOMO that you didn’t get in earlier? You’re not alone. Heck, even my 12-year-old has started investing.

And if you haven’t heard about cryptocurrencies yet, you haven’t been paying attention.

Simply put, cryptocurrencies are a digital form of money that’s exchanged without the help of banks. But it’s not what it is that has everyone talking, it’s what it’s doing. People are going nuts. Seriously. They’re selling their homes to buy in, and then living on the street waiting to strike it rich.

It seems like every time we get a handle on how economics work, something new gets thrown into the mix. The world of finance is complicated – we’ve known this for a long time. Luckily, we’ve got some of the finer examples on film.

My Financial Career

It’s normal to get a little uncomfortable around the subject of money, but the guy in this film goes above and beyond. The humour and wit of Stephen Leacock blend with the artistic talents of Gerald Potterton to bring us this treasure of a short.

My Financial Career, Gerald Potterton, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

John Law and the Mississippi Bubble

There are many people who look at cryptocurrency and the growing craze as just another get-rich-quick scheme. Heaven knows we’re no stranger to those. This classic short from Richard Condie (The Big Snit) revisits an infamous one that took place in France, over 200 years ago.

John Law and the Mississippi Bubble, Richard Condie, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

How to Create a Financial Crisis

Have a chat with a former bank president and economics professor and learn how to create a financial crisis so that you can better understand all the moving parts. This one’s best for mobile phones, but can also be experienced on tablets and computers.


July 2021 updates:
📉This blog’s header image is from Tom Tassel’s Krach; an incisive short about two financiers driven by profit schemes encounter Newton’s third law of motion—what goes up must come down.

Krach , Tom Tassel, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

Could a new system be the answer?
Economist Armine Yalnizyan reviews our absurdly dysfunctional economic system and proposes an alternative in Philip Eddolls’ The Big Reset – Economics.

The Big Reset – Economics, Philip Eddolls, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

NOTE: The original blog post included Nicholas Mross’ The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin, no longer available on NFB.ca.
*Bitcoin high adjusted from 2018’s high of $16,000 to 2021’s high of $81,047.

 

Add a new comment
  1. We have to move past presenting alt currency and monetary reform as something scary. The current system benefits few. Why is the examination of Blockchain developments not included in this article?

    — Bruce L,
    1. Hi Bruce. The purpose of this post was more to introduce the concept that throughout history, we’ve had many interactions with currency, and to examine that from the perspective of the NFB’s collection. It wasn’t meant to be an explanation of the technology behind cryptocurrencies. But thanks for your comment.

      — Julie Matlin,

Write your comment here