What happened when a crypto scam swept over a sleepy town in the Caucasus

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In Crypto Rush Aftermath, residents of Akhalkalaki in the Caucasus nation of Georgia recount how a cryptocurrency pyramid scheme ‘spread faster than COVID’ through their town, leaving big losses – and a few scattered winners – in its wake. The Georgian filmmaker Salomé Jashi constructs the film through beautifully composed long shots and candid conversations with those who placed their hopes – and savings – into the scheme, roping in friends, neighbours and family in the process. In doing so, she draws out a contrast between the quiet steadiness of the rural routines in this region and the seductive absurdities of the crypto speculation, which some locals still view as a viable road to riches. This patient, attentive style lets this tension unfold with a subtle nuance, prompting viewers to reflect not only on how this happened in Akhalkalaki, but also on the timeless power of get-rich-quick promises, even when the long odds should be obvious.