New Bitcoin thriller ‘Killing Satoshi’ expected to drop in 2026; Oscar-winner Casey Affleck in the lead

Key Takeaways

Killing Satoshi is a conspiracy thriller exploring the mystery of Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto.
The film, starring Casey Affleck and Pete Davidson, is set for a 2026 release and will delve into the power struggles surrounding Bitcoin.

Hollywood is turning crypto’s biggest mystery into a thriller. “Killing Satoshi,” a new film about Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, will start shooting in London this October and is slated to drop in 2026.

Directed by Doug Liman, the filmmaker behind “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Edge of Tomorrow,” and “American Made,” “Killing Satoshi” explores the mystery of Bitcoin’s creator and a powerful elite determined to keep Satoshi’s true identity hidden, according to a new report from Variety.

Oscar-winner Casey Affleck will team up with Pete Davidson in the thriller packed with espionage, political intrigue, and big-money stakes.

Bitcoin on screen isn’t new. Over the past decade, crypto cinema has leaned heavily on documentaries and niche thrillers, like Netflix’s Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King.

One of last year’s most talked-about releases was HBO’s “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery,” a documentary that claimed to have unmasked Satoshi. The film pointed to cryptographer and long-time Bitcoin developer Peter Todd as the elusive creator of Bitcoin, but Todd denied the claim.

“Killing Satoshi” is one of the first big Hollywood thrillers to put the mysterious creator of Bitcoin in the spotlight.

According to Arkham Intelligence, wallets linked to Satoshi Nakamoto hold more than 1 million Bitcoin, roughly $121 billion at today’s prices, and remain untouched apart from a few early test transactions.