Crypto’s biggest scandal is heading to your screen!
Netflix is officially turning the rise and fall of FTX into a gripping drama series and it just revealed who’s playing the leads. Titled The Altruist, the eight-episode show will dive deep into the chaotic world of crypto, tracing the dramatic events that led to the collapse of one of the industry’s biggest exchanges.
Announced on May 30, 2025, the series will spotlight the lives of Sam Bankman-Fried and Caroline Ellison, capturing both their ambitions and downfall in a story made for drama lovers and crypto watchers alike.
Meet the Actors
Northern Irish actor Anthony Boyle has been cast as Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX who became the face of one of the largest fraud scandals in recent history. Boyle has appeared in shows like Say Nothing, Masters of the Air, and the upcoming House of Guinness, and films like Tetris and Tolkien.
Starring opposite him is Julia Garner, the Emmy-winning actress known for her standout roles in Ozark, Inventing Anna, and The Get Down. She’ll play Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research and Bankman-Fried’s ex-girlfriend.
Netflix described the show as a story of “two hyper-smart young idealists [who] try to remake the global financial system in the blink of an eye… only to seduce each other into stealing $8 billion.”
An All-Star Team Behind the Camera
The Altruist is being produced by Higher Ground, the media company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama. It will be co-showrun by Graham Moore (The Imitation Game, The Outfit) and Jacqueline Hoyt (The Underground Railroad, Dietland, The Leftovers).
Moore quotes “For nearly three years now, Sam and Caroline’s story has been my daily obsession.” He also thanks Netflix for loving the story and coming forward with the web series.
Director James Ponsoldt (The Spectacular Now, Daisy Jones & The Six, Shrinking) will direct the first episode. Vinnie Malhotra and Jessie Dicovitsky will executive produce the series for Higher Ground.
Will the Real Sam and Caroline Be Watching?
Netflix hasn’t announced a release date yet, but both Ellison and Bankman-Fried might be out in time to watch their story unfold onscreen.
Caroline Ellison is serving a 24-month prison sentence and is expected to be released in May 2026. Bankman-Fried, originally sentenced to 25 years, may get out earlier than expected, reportedly by several years, thanks to good behavior credits, time served, and participation in prison programs.
What to Expect From “The Altruist”
With a top-tier cast, award-winning production team, and a headline-making true story at its core, The Altruist is shaping up to be one of Netflix’s most talked-about new releases.
Stay tuned – this is one crypto story you won’t want to miss.
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FAQs
FTX, a crypto exchange, collapsed in Nov 2022 due to an $8 billion hole in its accounts, caused by customer withdrawals exposing fraud by Sam Bankman-Fried.
Approximately $8 billion in customer funds were initially reported missing from FTX at the time of its collapse in November 2022.
It’s an 8-episode drama series about the rise and fall of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, and Caroline Ellison, and the $8 billion crypto scandal.
Netflix has not announced a release date yet. The series was announced on May 30, 2025.
