Netflix has released the trailer for The Altruists, a limited series revisiting the true story behind the collapse of FTX and the fraud involving billions of dollars in customer funds. Starring Julia Garner (Weapons) and Anthony Boyle (Tetris), the series blends financial drama, ambition, and a romantic relationship shaped by decisions with devastating consequences.
The trailer introduces Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX, and Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, as ambitious young executives who believed they could transform the global financial system. However, their promise to build a business that could make the world a better place stands in stark contrast to the scandal that put them at the center of one of the biggest crises in the recent history of the cryptocurrency market.
Watch the trailer for The Altruists below:
What Is The Altruists About?
Inspired by reporting published in New York Magazine, the story follows the rise of Sam Bankman-Fried and Caroline Ellison, two figures who gained considerable influence in the cryptocurrency industry before their careers came crashing down.
Played by Anthony Boyle, Sam founded FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange that became one of the largest companies in the industry. Julia Garner portrays Caroline, who ran Alameda Research, a trading firm closely tied to Bankman-Fried’s financial empire.
The pair’s professional and romantic relationship is central to the story. The series explores how their ambitions, beliefs, and decisions became intertwined as their businesses expanded rapidly, until a crisis exposed the scale of the financial problems and misconduct surrounding the companies.
The scandal came to light in 2022, when FTX collapsed, leaving thousands of customers facing financial losses. Investigations revealed the misuse of customer funds, and Bankman-Fried was eventually convicted of fraud and conspiracy.
Rather than simply recreating the events, The Altruists also aims to explore the contradictions at the heart of its protagonists’ stories: how did people who claimed they wanted to make the world a better place become involved in large-scale financial crimes?
Julia Garner and Anthony Boyle Lead the Cast
Known for her performances in Ozark and Inventing Anna, Julia Garner takes on the role of Caroline Ellison. The actress has experience portraying characters caught up in manipulation, ambition, and moral conflicts, themes that also figure prominently in the executive’s story.
Anthony Boyle plays Sam Bankman-Fried, the entrepreneur who cultivated a public image built around philanthropy and effective altruism before his financial empire collapsed.
The cast also includes Alex Lawther, Karan Soni, Madison Hu, Naomi Okada, Eugene Youn, and Matt Rife. Recurring cast members include Hudson Williams, Jennifer Grey, Paul Reiser, Robin Weigert, and Terry Chen.
With a well-known leading duo and characters based on real-life figures, the series sits at the intersection of crime drama, corporate storytelling, and a portrait of a personal relationship that unfolded amid a financial crisis of enormous proportions.
The Altruists was created by Graham Moore, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of The Imitation Game. He shares writing and creative leadership duties with Jacqueline Hoyt, known for her work on series such as The Leftovers.
Executive producers also include Higher Ground Productions, the company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, along with James Ponsoldt, Lauren Morelli, Julia Garner, and other industry professionals.
Drawing inspiration from New York Magazine reporting, the limited series joins a tradition of television dramas that revisit real-life scandals, exploring both the documented events and the motivations and conflicts of the people involved.
The Altruists premieres November 19, 2026, exclusively on Netflix. The limited series will consist of eight episodes, all released on the same day.
