“Crypto Boy” is the title of the streaming movie available on Netflix that tells the story of a blockchain-based pyramid Ponzi scheme. See below all the details about it, the plot and more.
Summary
Netflix’s signature crypto thriller “Crypto Boy”: the plot
The Dutch film “Crypto Boy,” a drama genre, was made available on Netflix on October 19, 2023, directed by Shady El-Hamus. The main roles are played by Sabri Saad El-Hamus (Omar) and Shahine El-Hamus (Amir), the director’s father and brother, respectively.
The plot follows the story of Amir, a young man in his twenties with Egyptian ancestry, who is employed in the family restaurant, “Burrito,” run by his father Omar. The family’s economic situation becomes difficult, with the restaurant in decline and the exorbitant increase in the restaurant’s rent.
Amir, longing for a change, feels neglected by his father, who is mainly engaged in food deliveries, and aspires for a better future but without success.
The turning point comes when he attends a lecture given by Roy, manager of a cryptocurrency investment company, who promises easy gains through trading and investing.
Fascinated by the prospects offered, Amir decides to go into business with Roy, quickly gaining money and freedom he had never experienced before. So much so that he tries to involve friends and his father in this new venture, but Omar remains skeptical and opposed.
In fact, Amir’s life of luxury and parties stands in stark contrast to his father’s hard work to maintain the restaurant. However, when Omar decides to renovate the restaurant, he is involved in an accident, leaving the restaurant unfinished.
Amir, trying to help his father, invests all his savings in the trading platform, but the emergence of reports on the Internet reveals the company to be a Ponzi scheme. When the platform is blocked and the money is not withdrawable, Amir finds himself in a whirlwind of trouble.
After unsuccessful attempts to recover his lost money by contacting Roy and even seeking him out personally, he realizes the scammy nature of the company he worked for. Eventually, Amir, despite the difficulties, reconciles with his father and returns to work in the restaurant, bringing the story to a successful conclusion.
Experts’ opinion about “Crypto Boy”
According to experts and the most frequent comments on the web, we see that the film “Crypto Boy” comes across as a linear story with no twists and turns, characterized mainly by a family-run business.
However, unlike the director’s previous success, this film comes across as neglected and overly simple, with predictable characters and events. Moreover, the heart of the story, the Ponzi scam scheme, is not explored in depth, keeping it superficial.
In any case, although the technical direction and quality of the film disappoint, the insight into the feelings of the victims of fraud is interesting.
Indeed, despite the simplicity of the plot, one can sense the emotions experienced by the protagonist and those around him: from initial frustration, to the illusory joy of change, to disappointment and despair when the system collapses, taking away their savings.
Hence, overall, the film may appeal to fans of the industry, but may be boring for the rest of the audience.
Scams in the crypto world and investor awareness
In the film context and in everyday reality, countless individuals fall victim to deceptions that promise quick and effortless gains.
This phenomenon, particularly prevalent in the blockchain sphere, often manifests itself in various forms and ways. Unfortunately, more and more often, suspicious projects in which investors allocate funds are in fact discovered, often later revealed as scams.
Two recent examples are UEFA and, even more recently, the CMG project, both scams that have embezzled large sums of money from numerous individuals.
Hence, reality, unlike the happy ending typical of movies, often results in negative consequences and significant losses for the victims involved.
To counter this phenomenon, one option is to educate and inform users about this sensitive and complex issue, trying to raise public awareness of these risks. Hence, there is an increasing need to focus on prevention and spreading awareness to prevent further scams in the blockchain industry, aiming to promote a safer and more informed environment for investors.
