A Conversation with Ben McKenzie – “Easy Money: Cryptocurrencies, Casino Capitalism and the Golden Age of Fraud.” Cryptocurrencies and the hype (and harm) surrounding them have been a key part of pop culture the last few years. But not everyone in the entertainment industry has bought into the hype – Ben McKenzie, a film and television actor (best known for his roles in programs such as The O.C., Southland, and Gotham) has emerged as unlikely but compelling crypto skeptic, puncturing the crypto industry myths and exaggerations on news programs, late night TV and even on Capitol Hill. Mr. McKenzie recently captured his journey through the strange crypto landscape as an author (along with journalist Jacob Silverman). Their book, “Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism and the Golden Age of Fraud,” explores the recent boom and bust of the crypto markets with critical and skeptical eye.
We’re very excited to host Mr. McKenzie for a discussion of his book, and are also excited we’ll be joined by two outstanding writers and thinkers who have explored the questions raised by crypto industry practices through the lens of racial and economic justice: Professor Darrick Hamilton, the Henry Cohen Professor of Economics and Urban Policy and the founding director of the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at The New School, and Tonantzin Carmona, a David M. Rubenstein Fellow at The Brookings Institution. We hope you’ll join us for an enjoyable and social evening, where we can explore more deeply the intersection between crypto, financial inclusion, economic and racial justice, and how digital technology’s promise and peril speaks to these issues writ large!
Live webinar took place on Tuesday, September 19th, 2023