Exploring the Intersection of Showbiz Profit Participants and Crypto with Gauntlet CEO Tarun Chitra and Duke University Professor Lee Reiners

The debate over whether Hollywood will ever fully embrace cryptocurrency and blockchain technology as a solution to the longstanding issue of Hollywood accounting is heating up. Gauntlet CEO Tarun Chitra and Duke University professor Lee Reiners recently discussed this topic on the latest episode of the Variety podcast “Strictly Business.”

Chitra, a crypto investor and CEO of Gauntlet, believes that the transparency and permanency of blockchain ledgers could revolutionize deals in the entertainment industry, especially those involving profit participants with small stakes that pay out over many years. He sees cryptocurrency as a decentralized approach to finance that puts trust in the blockchain community rather than traditional financial institutions.

On the other hand, Reiners is a crypto skeptic who questions the usefulness of alternative currency and finance options for the majority of Americans. He expresses concerns about unsophisticated consumers falling victim to crypto scams and believes that the harms of cryptocurrency outweigh the benefits.

Despite their differing views, both Chitra and Reiners agree that the rise of cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance has the potential to reshape the way people interact with money. With the recent approval of exchange traded funds for Bitcoin by the Securities and Exchange Commission, mainstream consumers may soon have easier access to trading and investing in cryptocurrencies.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether Hollywood will fully embrace crypto and blockchain technology in the future. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions on the business of media and entertainment on Variety’s “Strictly Business” podcast.