Ben McKenzie, best known for his role as Ryan Atwood on the 2000s teen drama The O.C., is taking on the cryptocurrency industry. Under a bright Saturday morning sun, the actor and director, who grew up in Austin, spoke on the main stage of the inaugural KUT Festival.
“I’ve always loved true crime. My favorite sub-genre of true crime is what I like to call stupid crime, which is where the criminals are sort of obviously committing crimes, sometimes via tweet,” he said while talking with Texas Standard host David Brown.
McKenzie directed the documentary Everyone is Lying to you for Money, which premiered at SXSW London in 2025. He also co-wrote the New York Times best-selling book Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud with journalist Jacob Silverman in 2023, which served as the basis of the documentary.
McKenzie said young men specifically are being targeted by the crypto industry. He cited a recent Pew Research Center report that found 42% of men ages 18-29 have bought, traded or used cryptocurrency.
“It is feeding on young men’s insecurities and misconceptions of who they ought to be,” McKenzie said. “And young men and men in general are better marks for the industry.”
While attending the 2022 SXSW conference with a documentary crew in tow, McKenzie began his work on the film.
“[The] first day we walked onto the floor of the convention center, and I saw this booth for a company called Celsius that was marketing itself as better than a bank,” he said. “You give your crypto to Celsius, and they give you 15% guaranteed interest on that, which is a literal red flag for a Ponzi scheme.”
McKenzie recalled going over to introduce himself to the company’s CEO as his documentary crew captured the moment.
“Long story short, that interview is in the film, but that guy is now in jail for running a Ponzi scheme, and that was our first day shooting,” McKenzie said.
Everyone is Lying to you for Money is being released gradually across the country. In Austin, screenings are being held at the Austin Film Society through May 5, with another screening May 7.
McKenzie said he wants to continue advocating for “responsible legislation” around cryptocurrency.
He also acknowledged the legacy of his grandfather Robert Schenkkan, who helped launch KUT and was instrumental in urging former President Lyndon B. Johnson to sign the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.
McKenzie also spoke with KUT’s Jerry Quijano on Friday’s episode of Austin Signal.
