“Unbanked” — A Bold Look at the Future of Money

I loved the documentary “Unbanked.” This is good filmmaking—intelligent, clear, and surprisingly human.

Bitcoin has been controversial since its mysterious release by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008—and rightfully so. There’s so much room for fraud and misrepresentation that it’s almost baffling this remains legal.

Many well-informed voices in global finance have long raised concerns that cryptocurrency enables criminal activity and functions as a modern variation of a Ponzi scheme. Yet, to be fair, others see the arrival of Bitcoin as a revolutionary form of financial freedom for ordinary people, after decades of abuse by centralized banking systems.

This wonderfully crafted documentary, “Unbanked,” puts a human face on the issue, creating space for viewers to think for themselves. It explores the history of currency, the mechanisms of monetary control, and what decentralization could mean for the lower and working classes. The result is illuminating and balanced—rare qualities in a film tackling a topic so polarizing.

The filmmakers pose one crucial question: Is a peer-to-peer money system practical—or even sustainable?

To explore this, directors David Kuhn and Lauren Sieckmann bring together a remarkable range of voices, including Jack Dorsey, Michael Saylor, Meltem Demirors, Alex Gladstein, Mike Novogratz, Arthur Hayes, Brian Brooks, Nic Carter, Sen. Ted Cruz, Peter Schiff, Erik Voorhees, and Sigal Mandelker. Their insights push the film far beyond the surface-level headlines, presenting a lively debate about the risks, promises, and ethics of digital currency.

Visually, “Unbanked” is impressive. Its production spans the United States (including Harlem), Argentina, London, Portugal, Central America, Nigeria, and Ghana. The global scope helps reinforce the film’s thesis: that financial systems—and their inequities—affect everyone, everywhere.

The filmmakers smartly introduce us to a cross-section of risk-takers, rebel makers, revolutionaries, wealth-seekers, dreamers, and the so-called “little guy.” The narrative underscores the social justice dimensions of Bitcoin’s appeal, posing the essential question: Who really controls your money?

“Unbanked” does not take sides. Instead, it offers a panoramic look at differing perspectives—without allegiance to class, political party, or ideology. The message is simple: pay attention, because the financial system shapes all our lives.

I rarely say a documentary must be seen, but in this case, “Unbanked” feels necessary.

FILM DETAILS

Genre: Documentary

Runtime: 86 minutes

Writers: David Kuhn and Lauren Sieckmann

Directors: David Kuhn and Lauren Sieckmann

Directors’ Statement

The filmmakers’ own words add essential context to the project’s vision:

“The film grew from Lauren’s passion for Bitcoin after she was introduced to it by her father. Lauren called me and said, ‘Let’s make a movie,’ and I became instantly curious about the subject matter too. My extensive documentary experience and Lauren’s Bitcoin passion propelled us quickly into pre-production. It was thrilling from the start.

The global pandemic had dominated the year before, and our film crew was itching to create again. Principal photography began in February 2022, sending us around the world for the next 15 months across four continents—including the USA, United Kingdom, Portugal, Argentina, Ghana, Nigeria, Costa Rica, and Patagonia.

Our story is one of education. We began filming with very little understanding of Bitcoin—on purpose. At its best, documentary filmmaking is a journey of discovery, and I wanted to ‘learn the subject matter by doing’ and let the process unfold on film. Our editors had the same experience; they learned deeply about Bitcoin as they worked through 250 hours of footage.

It paid off. The film unfolds as a teaching tool for viewers to understand Bitcoin and begin their own journey of questioning money, government control, internet privacy, and self-determination—while still engaging even the most informed audiences.”

Awards:

• Winner – Best Documentary – Manhattan Film Festival (NYC, 2025)

• Winner – Harlem Spotlight Award – Harlem International Film Festival (Harlem, 2025)