Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki is betting that Bitcoin can succeed where traditional media distribution has fallen short. His documentary The Six Billion Dollar Man, which explores the life of Julian Assange, the rise of WikiLeaks and the tensions between state secrecy, will be released through a Bitcoin-based online screening after major streaming platforms declined to distribute it.

Jarecki says executives consistently praised the film while refusing to acquire it, which, according to him, is evidence that economic and political incentives increasingly shape which stories reach mass audiences.

The documentary will premiere globally online on June 27, 2026, using Bitcoin for payments and Nostr for distribution, with support from Block’s co-founder Jack Dorsey.

The model effectively turns viewers into participants in the distribution process, allowing supporters to finance, promote and expand the film’s reach outside conventional media structures. Early contributors can even receive producer credits, transforming audience engagement into a funding mechanism.

According to Jarecki, the approach offers an alternative to traditional gatekeepers whose business incentives can conflict with the publication and distribution of controversial reporting.

The release strategy draws on WikiLeaks’ decision to adopt Bitcoin after payment processors cut off service in 2011. Beyond Assange, the documentary explores how control over information increasingly rests with platforms, payment providers and technology intermediaries.