US Film Uses Crypto to Finance Production

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A new U.S.-produced film, Legend of the Happy Worker, is highlighting the growing use of blockchain in independent filmmaking. Directed by Duwayne Dunham and executive produced by Leo Matchett and the late David Lynch, the film premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and was partly financed through decentralized, blockchain-based platforms.

The project utilized Decentralized Pictures (DCP+), a Swiss-based blockchain platform operated by Arts 3. The platform allows filmmakers to submit proposals by paying a small fee, which is pooled into a smart contract. Community members vote on projects and are rewarded from that pool, creating an incentivized, democratic funding process.

“This technology is breaking down barriers by allowing creators and consumers to connect directly using smart contracts,” said Matchett in a recent interview.

Unlike traditional crowdfunding, where donors have little involvement after pledging, crypto-financed film projects introduce greater accountability. Smart contracts and DAO (decentralized autonomous organization) models ensure that funds are released only when specific production milestones, such as script approval or casting, are met. “It’s a trustless system because the contract enforces the rules,” Matchett added.

DCP+ is not the only crypto-financing model being tested. Other filmmakers have explored fundraising through NFTs, using limited-edition digital assets to attract early backers. In one instance, a director raised nearly $1 million by minting NFTs based on a proof-of-concept short film.

The U.S. film industry, unlike its European counterparts, lacks substantial public financing options such as government grants. This financial gap has led independent creators to seek alternative, private-sector solutions. Blockchain-based funding platforms offer an avenue that does not depend on traditional gatekeepers or state subsidies.

Advocates argue this emerging model democratizes access to funding and removes many of the obstacles that independent filmmakers face. It also gives audiences and investors a new level of participation and transparency in the creative process.

With blockchain gaining ground across industries, from finance to real estate, its influence in media and entertainment is expected to grow. For American filmmakers working outside the major studio system, decentralized platforms could become a reliable alternative to fund and distribute their work.

As more success stories like Legend of the Happy Worker emerge, crypto-financing may well become a mainstream tool in the evolving landscape of U.S. independent cinema.