“Coin” follows two friends who go on a half-baked pursuit to protect a park from being turned into a luxury housing development, facing major consequences after misappropriating campaign funds to launch a cryptocurrency.
The crypto movies keep coming in 2026, with “NFT: Cursed Images,” “$POSITIONS,” “LifeHack” and now “Coin” being released.
Told in a non-linear format, “Coin” starts by providing the audience with a tense glimpse into the future, only to go back “20 hours earlier” after the title card appears. This effectively establishes contrast because the backdrop behind the story is less rigid and more silly. The crypto space is a gold mine for storytelling as there are so many ways that you can take it. Writer-director John Brownell embraces the absurdity of it — after all, many young people perceive crypto as a get-rich-quick opportunity. That’s exactly who these characters are, making the initial setup seem carefree despite viewers knowing the darker trajectory that is to come.
The first half of “Coin” consists mostly of conversations between Tyler Picchi (Ricky) and Danny Breslin (Billy). By spending so much time with the characters, it gives the audience a clear sense of their immaturity when it comes to money. This makes all the craziness that follows feel realistic, as it’s obvious they bit off more than they should have ever thought to chew.
An interesting conundrum also comes along with this, however: Ricky and Billy aren’t always likable. Constantly lying and attempting to scam everyday people out of money, they’re not easy characters to root for at times.
The basic premise of “Coin” makes it timely — combining cryptocurrency and politics. A concept that should feel outlandish in the real world, but it’s not. The film makes statements about the unregulated nature of the industry and how people in power abuse it, shedding light on these issues through comedy. Even as Ricky and Billy find themselves in a precarious situation, the goal is often laughter rather than thrills. Whether they’re saying “deuces” or shouting “we’re rich,” these characters aren’t meant to be hyper-scrutinized.
“What you made, it is smart. I mean, it’s dumb and smart. But like, I guess that’s just crypto, you know?”
Picchi and Breslin do succeed in the lead roles, though. Picchi plays a reserved character, stumbling over his words and being outwardly afraid of consequences. Breslin is more charismatic, bringing a sense of overconfidence to every line delivered. Together, they make the central friendship believable. Also appearing are Madison West (Audrey) and Roy Abramsohn (Fixer).
Director of photography Luis Manuel Peña heightens anxiety through the camerawork. Early on, “Coin” is largely locked down, with standard static shots of conversations. Once the stakes become clear, however, there is more movement. This includes handheld sequences of characters walking through tight corridors and quick pans around the environment. This immersive approach remains until the very end, putting viewers directly in the characters’ shoes as chaos surrounds them. Shifting between wide-angle shots and these extended shaky-cam-style segments, the editing maintains an engaging flow. Diego Ratto’s score also takes on a more pronounced role as the 76-minute runtime progresses. As fewer words are said, more compositions are played, transitioning between different pitches and tones to echo the situation.
“Coin” sheds light on the unpredictable (and unchecked) world of crypto. The comedic approach limits its seriousness, but the film remains entertainingly well-timed nonetheless.
Rating: 3 out of 5
“Coin” premiered at the Dances with Films (DWF:LA) festival on June 23, 2026.
