A Review of ‘Unbanked’: An over-populated but effective discourse on the Bitcoin banking system
Cryptocurrency Bitcoin is dramatically changing the face of global financing and providing an even keel for those without access to conventional banks, stock and shares. But does it come at a hidden cost?
'Unbanked’: An over-populated but effective discourse on the Bitcoin banking system
Cast: Clyde Vanel, Abubaker Nur-Khalil, Gur Huberman Aarika Rhodes, Yusuf Abdul-Ali, Niall Ferguson, Brian Brooks, Jerome Powell, Nic Carter, Janet Yellen, Michael Saylor, Mike Green, Mike Novogratz, Alex Gladstein, Gloria Zhao, Adam Back, Jack Dorsey, Yan Pritzer, Pete Rizzo, Jack Mallers, Jeff Snider, Sigal Mandelker, Samantha Messing, Peter Schiff, Andrew Miller, Jim Grant, Hong Fang, Ted Cruz, Matt Lohstroh, Brent Whitehead, JP Baric, Chad Harris, Jason Les, Christine Hallquist, Meltem Demirors, Kyle Murphy, Conor Okus, Didi Taihuttu, Obi Nwosu, Bernard Parah, Jeronimo Ferrer, Borja Martel, Diego Gutierrez Zaldivar, Agustin Kassis, Rodolfo Andragnes, Marcelo Cavazzoli, Marco Lynch, Juan Ravettio, Sebastian Carsdio, Ojoma Ochai, Arthur Hayes, Alan Rechtshaffen, Landon Cassill, Chris Hare, Fred Thiel, Mike Brune, Jonathan Logan, Daniel Modell, Shakib Farah, Jesse Cervantes, Lamar Wilson, Warren Buffet (archive), Elizabeth Warren (archive), Satoshi Nakamoto (archive), Bill Gates (archive), Bill Maher (archive), Gary Ackerman (archive), Duck Durbin (archive)
Critic’s Rating: 3.5 Stars out of 5
Director: David Kuhn, Lauren Sieckmann
Duration: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Genre: Documentary
Language: English
Release: 2025
What’s it about?
Cryptocurrency Bitcoin is dramatically changing the face of global financing and providing an even keel for those without access to conventional banks, stock and shares. But does it come at a hidden cost?
Review:
At a time when the world is undergoing seismic shifts in its financial sphere, along comes this relevant and well-crafted documentary about the Bitcoin phenomenon. The director duo of David Kuhn and Lauren Sieckmann have drawn opinions and comments on the controversial subject from about 60 respondents, mounting an enthralling debate on the digital transaction domain. From experts of this type of cryptocurrency, to entrepreneurs in the emerging field, to politicians grappling with the new scenario, to the benefiting common man, this film serves as a thorough examination on the topic. The overarching theme here is whether Bitcoin is a double-edged sword or whether its benefits outweigh its shortfalls.
Unbanked probes the growing interest in this new form of financing and the paradigm shift it might trigger from a currency standpoint. However, the deluge of information and the breakneck velocity of sound-bytes can be overwhelming at times - not according the viewer adequate time to connect with those persons on mic and camera. Also, some speak with such certitude only for others to outright contradict them, all amid a want for more hard facts and graphics. Still, the narrative is robust enough to sustain attention as it travels from several nooks of the U.S. to the U.K, Portugal, Nigeria, Ghana and South America. In so doing, it emphasizes both the wide reach of Bitcoin’s appeal as well as its ease of accessibility to the poor and downtrodden.
In the course of this mostly intriguing study, the filmmakers introduce us to cynical American politicians like Sen. Elizabeth Warren who blames Bitcoin for the increase in crime; and Rep. Gary Ackerman and Sen. Dick Durban who question its lack of regulation and security. This they do by using the arrest of fraudsters like Bernie Madoff and Sam Bankman-Fried to back up their claims. Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, Sen. Ted Cruz sings Bitcoin’s praises, saying that it can create new jobs, check inflation and even revive the damaged environment. Cruz’s comments are echoed by Nic Carter of Castle Island Ventures, who bemoans the U.S. Federal Reserve’s faulty tendency to manipulate and decrease the value of the Dollar. Still, there are others like tulip farmer Andrew Miller and MIT and Oxford Prof. Meltem Demirors, who claim that Bitcoin can only exist as virtual money insofar as people believe it to have value and demand.
The filmmakers also address Bitcoin’s infrastructure, although the role of creating the physical “mining” data centres (as explained by Giga Energy Founders Matt Lohstroh and Brent Whitehead, as well as JP Baric of Mining Store), may leave some viewers a tad confused. However, the film then does well to fly across the Atlantic to solicit the views of Conor Okus – Bitcoin Services Director of England’s Bedford Football Club - and then shifts focus to Bitcoin trailblazers in northwest Africa – Obi Nwosu and Bernard Parah – who are educating the masses to extricate them from poverty. Unbanked later zooms in on similar scenario in Harlem, New York, courtesy Jonathan Logan and his colleagues. Taking this initiative one step further are Btrust Founders Jack Dorsey and Jay-Z, who are seeking representation for Bitcoin developers and engineers. Meanwhile, in Argentina and the Patagonia region, widespread and innovative Bitcoin usage is unfolding.
Apart from the vocal narrative, the visual appeal of this film is notable, especially when the B-roll is allowed to breathe and capture the scenic essence of the countries being featured. But more archival footage could have been used to break the occasional monotony of the talking heads. Also, the film could have been demarcated into distinctive chapters with accompanying titles to further the effect of the narrative. Still, it is clear that a vast amount of research, scouting, filming and editing has gone into this production. For those in doubt of Bitcoin and its purpose, watching this informative celluloid venture might be a good place to start. After all, when one is up against powerful oligarchic banks and manipulative governments, there has to be another option to bank on.
