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Crypto (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 105 min · English
Echo score 38
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Directed by
John Stalberg
Starring
Kurt Russell, Luke Hemsworth, Seán Cullen, Jennifer Delora, Vincent Kartheiser, Gabe Fazio

A relentless Wall Street banker's search for the truth exposes a disturbing connection between a local art gallery and a global conspiracy. His investigation leads him down a dangerous path, pulling his family into a deadly game. He must now face a shadowy network and fight to protect those he loves while uncovering a shocking secret.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Crypto
  6. 6 Every angle
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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Crypto Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Crypto (2019) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Martin's Demotion

    Martin, a dedicated banker from Wall Street, is demoted due to his rigorous compliance standards that clash with the interests of his superiors. His uncompromising attitude towards Anti-Money Laundering (AML) inquiries leads to his reassignment to his hometown, marking a significant turning point in his career.

    Where
    New York City
  2. Return to His Hometown

    Upon returning to his hometown, Martin starts working at a local OmniBank branch, a move laden with mixed emotions. He reunites with Earl, an old friend who owns a convenience store and is involved in Bitcoin trading, which adds a layer of nostalgia and complexity to his new role.

    Where
    Hometown
  3. Conflict with Caleb

    As Martin settles in, tensions rise with his brother Caleb, who feels abandoned after Martin left a decade ago to chase opportunities in the city. This familial rift complicates Martin's efforts to adjust while navigating his new professional landscape.

  4. Investigation Begins

    Martin's first case at OmniBank involves the local art gallery where Katie works. Unbeknownst to her, the gallery's accountant, Ted, has questionable ties to the art community, which sets the stage for a deeper investigation into financial misconduct.

    Where
    Local Art Gallery
  5. Troubling Discoveries

    As Martin delves deeper into the gallery's finances, he uncovers alarming discrepancies and potential fraud linked to the art transactions. This investigation leads him to question not only the gallery's operations but also the relationships intertwined within the community.

  6. Janice's Revelation

    Janice, the previous AML officer who is battling cancer, shares crucial information about the gallery's financial connections before meeting an untimely end. Her insights propel Martin further into the murky depths of corruption and raise stakes significantly.

  7. Family Farm's Financial Troubles

    Martin learns about the financial distress plaguing his family's farm, adding personal stakes to his professional investigation. Despite his father's reluctance to cooperate, Martin feels compelled to find a resolution that could protect his family's legacy.

    Where
    Family Farm
  8. Dangerous Threats Emerge

    As the investigation continues, Martin encounters threats from dangerous figures associated with the Russian mafia. These menacing encounters highlight the perilous nature of his inquiries and the web of power and corruption enveloping his hometown.

  9. Penelope's Warning

    Penelope warns Martin that he is delving into 'very uncomfortable questions' that could threaten her safety. This moment of foreboding sets a tone of urgency as Martin realizes the depth of danger surrounding his investigation.

  10. Earl's Store Burned

    In a shocking turn of events, Earl's convenience store is set ablaze, a clear message meant for Martin. This act of violence underscores the high stakes involved and propels Martin further into the heart of the conspiracy threatening both his and his family's lives.

    Where
    Earl's Convenience Store
  11. Caleb's Revelation

    Martin learns that their father, Martin Sr., has been kidnapped, forcing him to confront the real dangers at hand. This ultimatum from Caleb not only intensifies Martin's investigation but also brings the familial tensions to a head.

  12. Race Against Time

    Faced with mounting threats, Martin races against time to secure his father's release while unraveling the conspiracy rooted in his family's history. The urgency heightens as law enforcement becomes involved, marking the beginning of a confrontation with the criminal elements.

  13. Climactic Confrontation

    In a dramatic climax, law enforcement intervenes just in time, unraveling the intricate web of deceit entangling Martin’s family. As the truth surfaces, the relationships and alliances he built throughout his investigation come under scrutiny.

  14. Restoration of Legacy

    After a harrowing journey, Martin's relentless pursuit of justice leads to the clearing of his family's name, as well as his own. The resolution not only seeks to restore integrity but brings closure to the family dynamics that have plagued him since returning home.

Last updated: October 27, 2024 at 16:30

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Timeline questions answered

Crypto Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Crypto (2019): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why is Martin demoted and sent back to his hometown?

Martin is demoted because his rigorous compliance standards and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) inquiries clash with his superiors' interests at OmniBank. His boss Bernard views Martin's thorough investigations as hindrance to lucrative deals with large firms. As punishment, Martin is reassigned to a local OmniBank branch in his hometown, where he continues his AML work.

  • demotion
  • AML
  • banking
  • compliance
  • reassignment
Q3

What is Carcasse and why does OmniBank invest in it?

Carcasse is a Canadian company linked to cryptocurrency investments that OmniBank has put significant money into. This investment becomes part of the broader conspiracy Martin uncovers, connecting the bank's legitimate operations to the illegal money flow through encrypted accounts.

Foreshadowing: Martin's earlier investigations into a company with $7 billion in revenues flagged suspicious transactions involving encrypted accounts.

  • cryptocurrency
  • Carcasse
  • OmniBank
  • investment
Q4

Why is Janice killed?

Janice, the previous AML officer at OmniBank, is killed after she shares critical information with Martin about the gallery's financial entanglements. Her murder eliminates a key witness who knows too much about the corruption, sending a clear message that those who investigate the conspiracy face deadly consequences.

Foreshadowing: Janice was already battling cancer when she decides to reveal crucial information, suggesting she knows her time may be short.

  • Janice
  • murder
  • AML officer
  • whistleblower
Q5

Why is Earl's convenience store set on fire?

Earl's store is burned as a direct threat and warning to Martin. The arson is carried out by shadowy figures connected to the Russian mafia, sending a clear message that Martin's investigation is getting too close to the truth. The attack also targets Martin's only local ally who helped him understand the cryptocurrency elements.

Foreshadowing: Martin encounters threats from dangerous figures associated with the Russian mafia as his investigation intensifies.

  • Earl
  • store fire
  • arson
  • threats
  • Russian mafia
Q6

Why is Martin Sr. kidnapped?

Martin Sr. is kidnapped to force Martin to stop his investigation. The conspirators use his father as leverage, revealing that the corruption extends directly into Martin's own family legacy. Caleb reveals this to Martin, pushing him to act quickly to secure their father's release.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Martin discovers the family's farm is in financial trouble, hinting at the family's entanglement in the conspiracy.

  • Martin Sr.
  • kidnapping
  • Caleb
  • family
Q7

What role does the Russian mafia play in the conspiracy?

The Russian mafia operates as the dangerous enforcement arm of the conspiracy, providing threats and violence to protect the operation. They target Martin, his family, and his allies when the investigation threatens to expose the entire scheme, acting as the muscle behind the financial corruption.

Foreshadowing: Penelope warns Martin about asking uncomfortable questions that could endanger lives, foreshadowing the dangerous forces at work.

  • Russian mafia
  • threats
  • enforcement
  • conspiracy
Q8

How is Martin's family farm connected to the conspiracy?

Martin's family farm is facing financial distress, and the conspiracy's money trail connects to his family's legacy. The farm's troubles are part of the larger scheme, and the conspirators use this vulnerability to manipulate Martin. His father's reluctance to cooperate stems from knowing the dangerous truth.

Foreshadowing: Martin pushes for solutions to the farm's financial problems despite his father's unwillingness to explain the situation.

  • family farm
  • financial trouble
  • Martin Sr.
Q9

How does Martin's investigation end?

Martin races against time to secure his father's release while uncovering the conspiracy rooted in his family's history. Law enforcement intervenes just in time, unraveling the intricate web of deceit that ties Martin's family to the crimes. The conspiracy is exposed, Martin's family name is cleared, and justice is served, though not without significant personal tragedy.

  • resolution
  • law enforcement
  • conspiracy exposed
  • justice
Q10

What happens to Caleb and the tension between brothers?

Caleb harbors resentment towards Martin for abandoning the family a decade earlier to pursue his career. Throughout the investigation, this familial rift complicates Martin's efforts. Ultimately, the brothers must work together during the crisis, with Caleb revealing their father's kidnapping, forcing them to confront their past while fighting for their family's survival.

Foreshadowing: Caleb's revelation about Martin Sr. brings the brothers together at a critical moment.

  • Caleb
  • brother
  • family conflict
  • reconciliation

Movie threads

More Movies Like Crypto, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Crypto tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Thrillers about financial conspiracies like Crypto

Ordinary professionals uncover dangerous corruption that puts everything at risk. If you enjoyed the high-stakes investigation in Crypto, you'll find similar tension in these movies. This list features fast-paced thrillers where characters expose dangerous economic crimes, from money laundering to corporate corruption, all while facing grave personal danger.

  • tense
  • suspenseful
  • paranoid
  • dangerous
  • gritty
  • anxious
  • Tone: tense, paranoid
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically begins with a single discovery that unravels into a massive, dangerous scheme. The protagonist, initially an insider or expert, becomes an outsider hunted by the very system they trusted. The plot is driven by a series of escalating revelations and threats, forcing the character to use their specialized knowledge in a deadly game against untouchable foes.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a specific blend of intellectual crime-solving and visceral, personal danger. They explore the dark underbelly of global finance with a tense, fast-paced approach, creating a stressful yet engaging experience centered on a solitary hero facing overwhelming odds.

Thrillers where family is threatened like in Crypto

When a criminal investigation puts a protagonist's loved ones directly in the crosshairs. For viewers who liked the personal stakes in Crypto, this list features movies where the hero's investigation draws deadly attention to their family. These stories blend high-tension crime plots with heavy emotional drama, focusing on the cost of seeking truth when your loved ones become the target.

  • tense
  • anxious
  • dangerous
  • family drama
  • suspenseful
  • emotional
  • Tone: tense, heavy
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The story follows a protagonist whose professional actions have catastrophic personal consequences. The narrative structure intertwines the progress of the external investigation with scenes of domestic life under siege—kidnapping, threats, and home invasion are common. The protagonist's arc is defined by their desperation to protect their family while simultaneously trying to dismantle the threat at its source, often leading to a bittersweet resolution involving sacrifice.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their core theme of familial endangerment as a direct result of the main plot. They share a heavy emotional weight and a consistently tense tone, as the stakes are not abstract but intimately personal. The pacing is often fast, driven by the urgency of the dual crisis.

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Movies Like Crypto

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Every angle

Crypto (2019) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Crypto in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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