Financing / Crowdfunding : Raising money for film projects with crypto currency investment by Marta Jorgensen

Be careful with that. Crypto is the easiest way to launder and steal money since an experienced hacker would be extremely hard to track. There are accounts for millions of dollars that are stolen, and nobody can do anything about it.

Also, let's use Coinbase as an example. I could be wrong about this, but I believe their evaluation is now around $100 billion, which is crazy and a lot of money.

However, I believe their rule is $25,000 a month can get sent to your back account when you trade and cash out, at least that's how it used to be on there. Well $25,000 x 12 is $300,000. So, let's say your crypto film budget is $5 million, then it'd take forever to even get the money out to use it. This could cause major delays and a rude awakening for a budgeting team that's dependent on that money they invested.

Do you know why this is? Because they don't have the amount of money combined that they're allowing their investors to show they "earned." They don't have the money to fund 500 billionaires right now or however many they claim to have; they have enough to fund about 100 and it used to be a lot less! This is why it's smart to only give out $300,000 a year. You think you're a billionaire but after 3 years you haven't even received one million of your money.

It's becoming legit for sure but unless you can buy what you need in film directly with crypto then it's not worth only being able to pull out $25,000 a month.

Now if you're going with a smaller budget, I guess it's ok. But again, some guy claiming to be able to invest $40,000 in crypto into a movie is probably either a liar or a jackass. What would he need to invest the money for if it's already invested in crypto?

Marta Jorgensen The advice you're referencing is risky, though I understand the sentiment behind it. Back in 2010, 1 Bitcoin was worth anywhere from a fraction of a cent to around $1. Fast forward to 2025, and 1 Bitcoin is priced at nearly $114,500. However, this doesn't mean Bitcoin or the broader cryptocurrency market is growing at the same rate today, especially since there are now exchange-traded bitcoin derivatives, market data is widely available, and previous arbitrage opportunities have largely disappeared. Not to mention, Bitcoin is facing increasing scrutiny from governments worldwide, with some tightening regulations and others exploring clearer frameworks to manage its use.

If you didn’t buy Bitcoin when it was practically being given away, you missed the early boat. Buying it now is highly speculative. At this price, it’s a risky investment—there’s a real chance of losing everything if its valuation turns out to be unsustainable or if a significant market correction occurs. That said, could it reach $200K? Maybe. Could other cryptocurrencies become significant? Probably. But will anything match Bitcoin in scale? That's uncertain.

As for raising funds for a film project, the term "film project" needs more context. Are you aiming to produce a small indie film or a large-scale production? The cost to produce a film can range from $10 million to $50 million or more, not including marketing and distribution. If you plan to raise such funds through crypto, it raises the question of whether you have sufficient resources to take on such a speculative venture, or if traditional funding routes might be a safer option. This typically involves accredited investors with expertise in film financing who understand the risks.

thanks for that Kenneth yes I agree its risky

Marta Jorgensen My goal wasn't to discourage you from exploring cryptocurrency as an investment strategy, but rather to ensure you're aware of the risks. In the crypto space, I actually see a few promising coins, but I view them as long-term holds. However, I don't know your investment horizon or risk tolerance.

Cryptocurrency investments are highly speculative, and it's essential to consider these factors before making a decision.

The other challenge is that many crypto wallets are limited in amount so that even a low budget film would have to be financed in installments

Interesting topic! Personally, I’ve found that governmental funds and film festivals tend to be more reliable and sustainable for financing. In some countries, we specifically target these institutions to access cinema funding — though I’d be curious to hear how others have managed to make crypto work for their projects.

If people wish to invest with crypto funds into your film, yes, accept their crypto. Treat it like any investment with agreements, etc.

Laurie Ashbourne The target film budget would provide clarity.

Some films like Saw (2004), made on a budget of $1.2 million, yet grossing $103 million worldwide, demonstrate remarkable success or Open Water (2003), produced with a budget of $500,000, and earning $54 million worldwide.

So what she is or was trying to do might depend on how much she is or was targeting.

Kenneth George all very true regardless of how funded. My point was that she needs to make sure she has the crypto wallet ability to accept funding. Most common wallets have limits of $25K. It can be done but the infrastructure of how to accept the crypto needs to be established.

Laurie Ashbourne I see. Keeping production funds in cash is probably the safest choice, since you have a fixed production budget and can’t afford to risk it. Holding them in cryptocurrency is more like investing in stocks — subject to daily or even minute-by-minute fluctuations — and carries the added risk of limited liquidity, depending on the specific crypto asset.

Marta Jorgensen Hi Marta, may I ask who told you that?