Bitcoin News Today: The Portal of Force Premieres as Its Backer Faces a DeFi Downfall

A new Hollywood film directed by Kevin Spacey has drawn significant attention due to its connection with Vladimir “Lado” Okhotnikov, a co-founder of the Ethereum-based decentralized finance (DeFi) platform Forsage, which faces serious allegations from U.S. regulators. The film, titled “The Portal of Force,” premiered at the Venice Film Festival and is the first in a planned trilogy. However, the spotlight has shifted to the financial controversy surrounding Okhotnikov, who is central to the project both as a writer and financier.

Okhotnikov, who resides in Dubai, is among several individuals charged by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2023 for running a global Ponzi and pyramid scheme estimated to have defrauded investors of over $340 million. The DOJ alleges that Forsage operated as a fraudulent DeFi project, using smart contracts on Ethereum, Tron, and BNB Chain to redirect funds from new investors to earlier participants. Over 80% of investors reportedly lost money in the scheme, according to the DOJ’s charges. This case marked a significant milestone as it was the first criminal prosecution of a DeFi Ponzi scheme in U.S. history [1].

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had previously filed civil charges against Okhotnikov and other Forsage co-founders in 2022, accusing them of orchestrating a scheme to defraud investors. Okhotnikov has denied the allegations, claiming in a public YouTube video that Forsage was not a scam and that “real scams can never win people’s hearts.” Despite these claims, both the SEC and DOJ maintain their allegations of fraud and ongoing criminal proceedings against Okhotnikov remain active. No court date has yet been set for his criminal case, and he currently remains outside U.S. jurisdiction [1].

The involvement of Okhotnikov in “The Portal of Force” has raised questions about the ethical implications of high-profile entertainment projects backed by individuals facing serious financial fraud charges. The film’s production team includes Spacey, along with actors such as Dolph Lundgren, Tyrese Gibson, and Eric Roberts. The launch event in Venice featured a grand gala with a speech from Spacey and a performance by an opera singer and Georgian dancers. Despite the controversy, the film has not yet faced public backlash or calls for its cancellation [1].

Meanwhile, Hollywood’s interest in cryptocurrency continues to grow, with another major project titled “Killing Satoshi” set for a 2026 release. Directed by Doug Liman and starring Casey Affleck and Pete Davidson, this film will explore the creation of Bitcoin and the identity of its anonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. The project is being produced by Ryan Kavanaugh, a former Relativity Media CEO known for financing films like “The Social Network.” Kavanaugh described the film as a “David and Goliath” story, focusing on an elite group’s efforts to conceal the truth about Bitcoin’s origins [2].

These two films highlight the growing intersection between the cryptocurrency industry and mainstream media, particularly in how Hollywood portrays the technology and its controversies. While “Killing Satoshi” takes a speculative approach to Bitcoin’s origins, “The Portal of Force” reflects a more direct engagement with the real-world financial implications of DeFi and Ponzi schemes. Both projects underscore the increasing influence of digital assets on popular culture, while also raising ethical concerns about the individuals involved [1].

Source:

[1] Kevin Spacey Reveals Film Created With Alleged Crypto ... (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kevin-spacey-reveals-film-created-214710561.html)

[2] Bitcoin Blockbuster? 'Killing Satoshi' Film to Star Casey ... (https://decrypt.co/337812/bitcoin-blockbuster-killing-satoshi-film-casey-affleck-pete-davidson)