Netflix Series The Altruists To Explore FTX and the Sam Bankman-Fried Saga
Netflix has announced a new drama series, The Altruists, set to dive into the dramatic rise and fall of the crypto exchange FTX and its key figures, Sam Bankman-Fried and Caroline Ellison. The series will explore how two young minds attempted to reshape the financial system through cryptocurrency, only to become entangled in a massive scandal that led to an $8 billion theft that led to their downfall.
With a talented cast and a seasoned production team, the show promises a nuanced look at one of the most significant events in recent crypto history. The Altruists is poised to captivate audiences with its blend of financial intrigue and personal drama, shedding light on the complexities of the crypto world.
The series will star Julia Garner as Caroline Ellison and Anthony Boyle as Sam Bankman-Fried, bringing to life the dynamic between the two figures at the heart of the FTX story. Garner, known for her Emmy-winning performance in Ozark, returns to Netflix for her role as Caroline Ellison. Boyle, recognized for his work in FX’s Say Nothing and Apple’s Masters of the Air, steps into the role of Sam Bankman-Fried, the once celebrated crypto entrepreneur.
The Altruists is helmed by co-showrunners Graham Moore, an Academy Award winner for The Imitation Game, and Jacqueline Hoyt, whose credits include The Leftovers. James Ponsoldt, director of Apple’s Shrinking, will direct the series, with production backed by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions.
A Deep Dive into the FTX Collapse
The Altruists will chronicle the meteoric rise of FTX, once a leading crypto exchange, and its catastrophic collapse in late 2022. A surge in customer withdrawals exposed an $8 billion shortfall in FTX’s accounts, triggering a chain of events that shook the crypto industry. Bankman-Fried faced trial and was convicted in November 2023 on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy. He is currently serving a 25 year sentence in federal prison, and earlier this year did a prison interview with Tucker Carlson.
Ellison, who served as co-CEO of Alameda Research, a hedge fund closely tied to FTX, and was Bankman-Fried’s former partner, testified against him after pleading guilty to related charges. Her prison sentence is due to end next year in 2026. Their story, marked by ambition and betrayal, offers a compelling narrative for the series.
Graham Moore expressed his deep connection to the project, noting that the story of Bankman-Fried and Ellison has been a personal obsession for nearly three years. His passion, combined with the creative vision of Higher Ground Productions, aims to deliver a series that resonates with viewers interested in finance, technology, and human drama. The Altruists joins other projects exploring the FTX saga, including a feature film in development by Lena Dunham for Apple and A24, and a limited series from Amazon’s Prime Video. Documentaries from Mark Wahlberg’s Unrealistic Ideas and Bloomberg also highlight the widespread fascination with FTX’s downfall.