Ben MacKenzie’s literary debut is impressed by the beginning of many nice concepts: drug use. “I grabbed some meals, and I used to be like, ‘Oh, I will write a e book,'” the actor mentioned by way of Zoom from his Brooklyn condominium. Like most noble concepts, it sounded nice on the time, however within the morning he realized he did not fairly know how one can write a e book. “So I am excited once more, and I take braveness,” he mentioned with fun.
MacKenzie did not precisely begin from scratch. In the summertime of 2021, simply as digital currencies grew to become mainstream, he fell down the cryptocurrency rabbit gap. However in contrast to many high-profile figures who tout investments in several currencies via social media channels (keep in mind Dogecoin?), the actor requested rhetorically, “Is that this a large Ponzi scheme?” He was shocked and felt he wanted to do one thing to alert the general public to the forex’s potential pitfalls. “Quite a lot of celebrities and influencers, with out even interested by it, shill on cryptocurrency,” he mentioned, shaking his head. “For me, the folks I noticed, the folks I knew, instantly mentioned, ‘I am not shopping for this.'”
So why hasn’t he fallen in love with the burgeoning cryptocurrency scene like everybody else? Mackenzie’s skepticism comes from previous expertise. In his twenties, his good friend Dave gave him “the worst monetary recommendation I’ve ever had in my life.” He encourages the actor to spend money on an obscure firm, and the 2 shortly lose their cash. Though the quantity isn’t a lot, it is sufficient to make folks keep in mind. “He got here again to me in 2021 and mentioned, ‘It’s important to purchase bitcoin,'” he recalled. “That is my ‘What’s this?'” He knew one thing was incorrect.
MacKenzie adopted journalist Jake Silverman on Twitter after seeing an article titled “Even Donald Trump Is aware of Bitcoin Is a Rip-off,” written by journalist Jake Silverman. Finally, he labored up the braveness to ship him a DM. They ended up having a drink, and MacKenzie got here up with Silverman’s concept for a e book. “He was occurring paternity depart,” MacKenzie recollects. “I am actually fortunate that he is about to be free and prepared to do it.”
MacKenzie is aware of he has to show he’s greater than “only a random actor,” particularly if he’s prepared to co-write a e book debunking cryptocurrencies. So he and Silverman began writing articles collectively. “We began writing articles to do the analysis, however actually to indicate that we may,” he defined.they printed their first article slatethen the story Washington publish, to intercept and new republic Adopted by.Now, they’ve formally written their first e book The golden age of straightforward cash, cryptocurrencies, on line casino capitalism, and fraud.
As MacKenzie digs deeper into debunking the over-promise of cryptocurrencies, he hasn’t escaped a backlash from crypto evangelists both. “After all, I acquired vitriol from my nigga. I acquired a variety of hate from the crypto folks, however I type of knew what it was,” he mentioned. However what in regards to the well-known folks he is aware of? “I like how the general public thinks all celebrities know one another—we simply go to our weekly conferences and hang around,” he joked. “I believe I’ve met some people who find themselves captivated with cryptocurrencies, however so far as I do know, I am not shut mates with anybody.”
Whereas MacKenzie needed to have a look at cryptocurrencies as a complete and never single out too many celebrities, he did focus on a number of the extra egregious hype for the controversial forex — Kim Kardashian’s promotion of Ethereum Max and The SEC prices and the tremendous she should payMatt Damon’s The notorious Crypto.com advert and Jack Dorsey and Jay-Z’s Bitcoin Academy. Particularly, the latter stays a bone of competition for him.
“The very first thing they do is go to the place Jay-Z grew up [at Marcy Houses in Brooklyn] Promoting this impoverished neighborhood of largely black jobs and convincing them to speculate on this extraordinarily risky, unregulated funding,” he mentioned, referring to Bitcoin Academy. “I used to be like, That is disgusting, man. too disgusting. “
However movie star isn’t the core concern, he mentioned. “They’re simply megaphones that Ponzi schemes must unfold,” he asserted. “The larger issues get, the extra celebrities you’ll want to unfold it additional.”
He ought to know: MacKenzie has been in Hollywood for over 20 years, in any case.The 44-year-old actor had his large break starring in movies practically 20 years in the past the oc He performed Ryan Atwood, a foul boy from Chino with a coronary heart of gold who was all the fashion in Newport Seaside wealthy man drama. “I am so grateful for that,” he mentioned of the function. “I believe it is a sophisticated factor. Your first job, for me and a variety of younger actors, that is really what it’s, and when it blows up — I do know it is a champagne factor — nevertheless it’s a insanity.”
since success the ocMackenzie has starred in a number of movies, together with the 2005 comedy Homecoming June bugand motion thrillers accountability vary And final 12 months’s romantic comedy, I would like you Again.But it surely’s his TV persona that individuals discuss – as performed by LAPD officer Ben Sherman southern nation and detective james gordon Gotham. For Mackenzie, it is necessary to him to not be stereotyped.
“I really like being an actor and I really like performing, however I additionally do not wish to be outlined by one factor,” he famous. “Actually, scripting this e book was useful as a result of one of many issues I hate being categorized is, Ryan Atwood or James Gordon, or my beloved character Ben Sherman southern nation, which is definitely my favourite present I’ve ever produced, however the least watched. ’ However the function he dreamed of was really one thing totally different — director. “That’s the function I’m doing proper now, making a documentary about me taking place the rabbit gap of cryptocurrencies,” he mentioned.
Whereas MacKenzie by no means imagined he’d be writing a e book, combining his economics diploma with what he is discovered over the previous 20 years in present enterprise has been very satisfying for him. The truth that it incorporates his ardour for true crime is a bonus. “My favourite true crime style is what I name ‘dumb crime.’ Coen Brothers-style crime is my favourite factor to learn.” He mentioned writing a e book about cryptocurrencies was like making “fargo For the digital age. “
Though MacKenzie does not have a selected matter in thoughts, he is already interested by writing one other e book. “I am eager about human tales as a result of they intersect with economics, politics, and many others. I do not know what that is going to show into,” he defined. However he will not write any extra now.
“It is type of like having a child,” he mentioned with fun. “Possibly take a break and speak later.”
