From a famous actor and an experienced journalist, a wildly entertaining debunking of cryptocurrency, one of the greatest frauds in history and on course for a spectacular crash.

At the height of the pandemic, TV star Ben McKenzie (The O.C., Gotham) was the perfect mark for cryptocurrency: a dad stuck at home with some cash in his pocket, worried about his family, armed with only the vague notion that people were making heaps of money on something he—despite a degree in economics—didn’t entirely understand. Lured in by the promise of taking power from banks, possibly improving democracy, and sure, a touch of FOMO, McKenzie dove deep into blockchain, Bitcoin, and the various other coins and exchanges on which they are traded. But after scratching the surface, he had to ask, “Am I crazy, or is this all a total scam?”

In Easy Money, McKenzie enlists the help of journalist Jacob Silverman for a caper and exposé that points in shock to the climactic final days of cryptocurrency now upon us. Weaving together stories of average traders and victims, colorful crypto “visionaries,” Hollywood’s biggest true believers, anti-crypto whistleblowers, and government agents searching for solutions at the precipice of a major crash, Easy Money is an on-the-ground look at a perfect storm of 2008 Housing Bubble-level irresponsibility and criminal fraud potentially ten times more devastating than Bernie Madoff.

Listening Length

10 hours and 33 minutes
Author

Ben McKenzie, see all
Narrator

Ben McKenzie
Audible release date

July 18, 2023
Language

English
Publisher

OrangeSky Audio
ASIN

B0BYFC28ZJ
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	10 hours and 33 minutes
Author	Ben McKenzie, Jacob Silverman - contributor
Narrator	Ben McKenzie
Audible.com Release Date	July 18, 2023
Publisher	OrangeSky Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B0BYFC28ZJ
Best Sellers Rank	#3,524 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #2 in Con Artists, Hoaxes & Deceptions True Crime #11 in Digital Currencies #19 in Hoaxes & Deceptions

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Robert In Denver

An Absolute "Must Read" For So-called "Investors" Who Believe In Crypto

Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2023

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Although Ben McKenzie on the surface seems to be an unlikely author as a multi-series television star, and former teen idle twenty years ago, his research and explanations on "casino-type investing during easy money times" are accurate, well documented and easy to understand. He has attended many panel discussions and done countless interviews including a lengthy discussion on Bill Maher's HBO show, and many, many more. I have not heard or read of any reputable economists who are questioning his conclusions that crypto is nothing more than an elaborate well hyped Ponzi scheme. He also explains the history of block chain technologies, which are not new by the way. He also stresses the environmental irresponsibility of the crypto mining process. This book is an excellent read for anyone with interest in modern age economics, and what happens when capitalism is left unregulated, and becomes taken over by greed and deceit.

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Peter F.

Would have made a good magazine article.

Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2023

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Wordy and repetitive. Would have made a better, shorter magazine article than a book. Lacking depth.

3 people found this helpful

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MikeyR

A fun and informative read that will give you the full story on cryptocurrency

Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2023

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A fun and informative read. Some digressions away from the main topic but otherwise lays out a compelling picture of how crypto “currency” became the modern American parable for everything that has gone wrong in the country. It was the quintessential get rich quick scheme, always a perennial winner in a land where hard work is more often idolized in the abstract. It hoovered up (and paid for) many of the country’s recognizable elite to further legitimize the scheme a la Theranos (also an enjoyable irony that the author is a celebrity). Almost nobody put themselves out there to speak out against what would cause millions of people to lose a lot of money (sticking with the sad theme of a country where moral courage is appallingly rare). And there is once again the great theme of a “democracy” where wealth interests can swoop in with unlimited money and buy their preferred policy position, which in this case was to do nothing (the most preferred outcome as the current system works great for them). Sadly, there is no end in sight to these types of scandals. Americans get hit with both legally questionable or fraudulent schemes as well as completely legal ones, cryptocurrency in the former and exorbitant credit card fees in the latter. Until private interest money is eliminated from the government (by publicly financed elections), American policy will continue to be purchased by plutocrats and the government will remain dangerously unstable. No country is riper for scamming than this one and all the would-be fraudsters and hucksters know this only too well.

3 people found this helpful

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Richard

Really good

Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2023

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This book gets fantastic in the second half. I knew all about these scams (Celsius, Tether, Binance) but the way its outlined in this book is so well done and clear.

I didn’t know about how much crypto has corrupted the halls of the CFTC though. This was alarming and troubling. The crypto ponzi is literally destroying the wealth of a generation, and politicians and regulators are letting it happen. It’s tragic and infuriating.

One person found this helpful

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jeffrey

Something all investors need to read

Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2023

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I’ve been against crypto and the like since the beginning. I’ve done well in other areas of investing and while not always perfect at least there was a sense of ownership because I owned a piece of something.

I’ve stayed on top of crypto nonetheless and watched from afar and was overall surprised by the lack of skepticism out there before and even after all the scandals.

I saw Ben on Bill Maur and was perplexed that the great Jim Gordon is also against crypto and wrote a book. I’m nearing the end and feel confident in leaving this review before finishing. Very good read that those in my age group could benefit from.

3 people found this helpful

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wutao

Good read, but the Author missed an important fact...

Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2023

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In his book, the author embarks on an interesting exploration of the ever-evolving world of 'crypto,' immersing readers in its multifaceted and often murky landscape. However, it's essential to acknowledge that his observations do not extend to BSV, a digital asset that remains true to the original Bitcoin vision and stands apart from conventional “cryptocurrencies”. In any case, prepare to be enthralled as the book uncovers gripping topics such as the alleged Tether shenanigans and exposes the questionable practices of influential individuals like Sam Bankman Fried. Brace yourself for shocking revelations about exchanges like Bitfinex, which have been accused of exploiting unsuspecting customers in their relentless pursuit of quick profits. Amid this thrilling journey, the author's meticulous research unveils a staggering revelation: a mere 10 to 15 percent of global crypto assets are genuinely backed by real fiat currencies. This eye-opening statistic casts a revealing light on the potential risks and lack of transparency that pervade the industry.
However, while the book offers valuable insights into various cryptocurrency projects, it falls short in adequately distinguishing between different approaches to digital currency design. The notable missing point is an exploration of BSV's unique characteristics and mention of Dr. Craig S Wright—the visionary founder of Bitcoin and his book 'Satoshi's Vision: The Art of Bitcoin,'. If you want to achieve a deeper understanding of the profound impact and intricate nuances surrounding this groundbreaking technology, make sure you follow Dr. Craig S Wright and read his book. So strap in and get ready for an enthralling adventure through the captivating realm of crypto. BSV and Dr. Craig S Wright await your discoveries...

13 people found this helpful

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McDeagles

Great work for a dope smoking actor

Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2023

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This book was very insightful and helped me to confirm my suspicions about crypto. I like to think I have a nose for a good scam, and wow does this book make a compelling case that that’s all crypto ever was. Scary. Truly a zero sum game not to mention the money that’s just skimmed from the top by the most bizarre cavalcade of posers I’ve every heard about. Loved it! Can’t wait for the next one!

One person found this helpful

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Amazonカスタマー

胡散臭いが浸透している日本にはピッタリ。

Reviewed in Japan on September 10, 2023

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翻訳版を早く出すと良い。

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Amazon Kunde

Eine authentische Wiedergabe einer kaputten, parallelen Welt

Reviewed in Germany on August 28, 2023

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Eine wunderbare Zusammenfassung von einer verzerrten Welt, sehr gut erzählt. Es ist Crypto. Kein Bezug zur Realität, keine Regeln, kein Schutz, nur Vorgaukeln und Betrug. Mehr muss man über crypto nicht wissen. Weniger sollte man aber auch nicht wissen. Die Brücke zur realen Welt schlagen sog. Stablecoins, wertlose Tokens, vergeudete Computerrechenleistung, die ihren Wert ausschliesslich aus dem Dollar-Pegging bekommen. Shitcoins haben nur einen Wert indem man sie in $, €, £ ausdrückt. Ein Bitcoin sind 25.000 Tether.
Few.

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BRUCE CHISHOLM

Very entertaining read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 7, 2023

Verified Purchase

Very good read

One person found this helpful

Mr S Brooks

A detailed review of crypto currency

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 9, 2023

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The book is very detailed on those responsible for the failings of crypto currency.

One person found this helpful

Conor

Good read

Reviewed in Germany on August 30, 2023

Verified Purchase

Well researched

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Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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