Bitcoin mining becomes the main topic of Futurama's “How the West Was 1010001" episode.
The popular animated sci-fi show Futurama, issued well before Bitcoin saw the daylight, has humorously portrayed the quirks of cryptocurrency mining in its latest episode.
In the newly released episode titled “How the West Was 1010001,” which aired on Hulu on August 6th, the show’s main characters find themselves in a dilemma.
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In debt to the Robot Mafia, they embark on a quest to the fictional “Crypto Country,” where the storyline parodies the mining of Bitcoin within a Wild West setting.
According to the show’s futuristic narrative, Bitcoin's price remains as unpredictable as ever in 3023, leading people to hunt for “cheap, filthy electricity” to keep mining blocks.
The episode is packed with humorous jabs at the cryptocurrency world, including gags about gathering thallium for mining chips, relocating to “Doge City,” and Bitcoin miners using so much power that they’re “ionizing the atmosphere.”
While the episode primarily made fun of Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies, notably Ethereum, weren't excluded, with jokes about "danged Ethereum" and robot heads doubling as crypto-mining devices.
However, the episode curiously leaves one aspect unexplained: why would characters, even in this exaggerated comedic universe, still engage in Bitcoin mining in the year 3023? Especially given that the BTC halving process estimates that the last block will be mined in 2140.
The Futurama series debuted in March 1999, a good decade before Bitcoin entered the scene.
Futurama's playful interpretation of cryptocurrency mining showcases how deeply rooted and recognizable the world of digital assets has become in popular culture. The comedic lens used to examine the crypto world serves both as entertainment and a reflection of the broader public’s growing awareness and curiosity about the digital currency landscape.