The Simpsons and crypto have a long and checkered history. While weโve seen plenty of scathing comments from Springfield about how non-fungible tokens are โworthless,โ the creators of the iconic Fox series have also playfully predicted a Bitcoin price valued at $โ.
These predictions have especially been gaining a lot of buzz recently concerning the new presidential candidate, Kamala Harris. In an episode that aired over 20 years ago, Lisa sports the same clothes as Kamala, and even succeeds Donald Trump as president. Certainly a strange coincidence to say the least.
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Whether the Simpsons writers possess a crystal ball or not is unclear, but when it comes to crypto, how many of the showโs predictions actually came true?
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The Simpsons and Cryptocurrency
The Simpsons have a knack for making wild predictions that eventually come true. Some of the most famous Simpsonsโ predictions include the Donald Trump presidency, Disneyโs acquisition of Fox, and the construction of the London Shard 14 years before its construction began.
As blockchain technology and the world of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL) continue to grow, mentions of digital assets in popular shows are becoming more frequent.
What are some of the most memorable crypto moments in the Simpsons?
5 Crypto Appearances in the Simpsons
From XRP hitting astronomical values to crypto being hinted at in the 1990s, letโs recap some key crypto appearances in Simpsonโs history.
1. Ripple (XRP) to $589
If youโve ever seen an episode of The Simpsons before, youโll know that the showโs iconic intro sequence always begins with Bart scrawling repeated messages on his classroomโs blackboard.
Likely serving detention for one of his many misdemeanors, the repeated phrase differs in every episode. Considering the lifespan of the hit show, this is already an impressive feat.
In February 2020, at the beginning of the โFrinkcoinโ episode, Bart was seen writing โXRP to hit $589 USD by EOYโ. At the time, the crypto market was in an excitable state, with prices rising across the board and Bitcoin halving just months away.
Unfortunately for XRP bulls, this prediction never came true. Despite enjoying impressive returns in the following bull run, the popular altcoin struggled to break $2 and has languished ever since.
2. Bart Simpson Becomes an NFT
The Simpsons Halloween specials, also known as the โTreehouse of Horror,โ have long been met with a polarizing reception from fans. Love or hate them, these episodes generally offer a dystopian yet humorous commentary on present issues in our society.
In 2023, the Simpsons turned their attention to a devastated NFT market. In the episode, Homer mints his son Bart into an NFT who lives on the blockchain. Fortunately for Bart, Marge dives on-chain to rescue him, but not before encountering plenty of blockchain easter eggs that delighted crypto fans.
The episode featured iconic digital art pieces from Beeple, characters from the Yuga Labsโ Bored Ape Yacht Club, and even a large Satoshi Nakamoto statue.
Noah Bolanowksi, a famous NFT art collector and CryptGallery advisor, praised the episode for highlighting digital art instead of focusing purely on generative profile pictures, which the show paints as โthe bottom of the barrel.โ
3. Bitcoin (BTC) to Infinity
One of the most dramatic Simpsons crypto predictions aired in 2021 amidst a wild period in both traditional and crypto markets. The โBurger Kingsโ episode saw Marge Simpson become an obsessive stock trader.
During the episode, Marge watches a television show discussing stock trading and current market prices. On the screen, we can see that Bitcoin has hit $โ.
The significance of this Easter Egg was met with conflicting opinions. The bulls argue that it suggests that the showโs creators are bullish on Bitcoin and expect it to continue rising. On the other hand, it could also suggest that Bitcoinโs value is inherently worthless and cryptocurrency as a whole will collapse upon itself.
4. Frinkcoin
If youโre having trouble explaining to your friends what cryptocurrency is and how blockchain works, maybe this fun Simpsons episode is precisely what you need. In the โFrinkcoinโ episode, Professor Frink shows Lisa an educational video about crypto featuring โThe Big Bang Theoryโ star Jim Parsons.
The video highlights the convenience of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology but also serves as a disclaimer and warning to viewers by subtly comparing crypto markets to a slot machine.
5. Crypto Barn
This is where things start getting peculiar. The first time crypto was mentioned on The Simpsons dates back in 1997, over a decade before the invention of Bitcoin, the worldโs first cryptocurrency.
In the mysterious episode, The Crypto Barn is a shady-looking shop selling โloads of codesโ, โsecret codesโ, and โthe right password.โ
While there is no specific mention of cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, or blockchain technology, the fact that you could buy โthe right passwordโ arguably parallels the sheer frequency of crypto-related hacks and scams in the space.
On the other hand, this could be a complete coincidence. Cryptography existed long before cryptocurrency was invented, so itโs more likely that the โCrypto Barnโ in the Simpsons was a reference to general cyber materials rather than an asset class that would be invented over ten years later.
Are The Simpsons Pro-Crypto?
Despite having mentioned cryptocurrency or blockchain numerous times throughout its history, the Simpsons has maintained a neutral view of blockchain technology and the crypto market.
One could argue that The Simpsons’ suggestion that the XRP will hit $589 makes them pro-crypto, but the fact that this price is so obviously ridiculous means that the claim is likely pure satire.
Granted, the hit show has poked fun at the crypto market, but theyโve also never outwardly declared that they are against cryptocurrency entirely.
On the Flipside
- Massive corporations like Fox need to ensure that they arenโt endorsing subject matter that could still be considered a legal gray area. Unsurprisingly, the Simpsons have kept their views and representation of cryptocurrency light, good-humored, and neutral.
Why This Matters
The Simpsons is one of the worldโs longest-running series. With over 760 episodes aired since 1989, Springfieldโs characters have delighted audiences worldwide. The series’ mention of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology helps to familiarize The Simpsons’ considerable audience with the Web3 world.
FAQs
Simpson coin is meme coin and, as such, should be treated with care and not taken too seriously.
The Simpsons did not predict the existence of Bitcoin. However, the show once playfully suggested that Bitcoin had infinite value.
In the showโs famous intro sequence, Bart once wrote โXRP to $589 USDโ on his classroomโs blackboard. Unfortunately for Ripple fans, this prediction never came true.
