A striking new sculpture, named “Bitcoinius Maximus,” was recently introduced at the Bitcoin Alpha unconference held in Santa Monica, California. This art installation features a great white shark suspended in a glass box, intended to embody the spirit of Bitcoin. Emitting a glow under orange lights, the sculpture was prominently displayed during the two-day event, serving as a backdrop for numerous private discussions by entrepreneurs and cryptocurrency enthusiasts.
Organizers of Bitcoin Alpha have ambitious plans to transform Bitcoinius into the centerpiece of an upcoming pop-up installation titled “Living with Bitcoin.” Ben Sigman, one of the event’s planners, mentioned that Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade, which currently has many vacant storefronts, would be an ideal location for this initiative.
Sigman articulated a unique connection between sharks and Bitcoin, highlighting sharks as among the oldest species on Earth. He believes their long-term survival draws a parallel to Bitcoin’s potential longevity compared to traditional assets like cash and gold. Furthermore, he pointed out that some shark species must continue swimming to breathe, which echoes Bitcoin’s constant, 24/7 activity.
Throughout its history, Bitcoin enthusiasts have often looked to the natural world for symbolic representation. Notably, in 2013, Roger Ver, who is often referred to as “Bitcoin Jesus,” popularized the honey badger as Bitcoin’s spirit animal through billboards in Santa Clara, California. Sigman and his collaborator Fred Krueger, who has a strong mathematical background and experience in trading, are suggesting sharks as symbols for Bitcoin, emphasizing that they are not imposing this idea but rather letting it evolve naturally in the cryptocurrency community.
Initially, the duo envisioned a sculpture depicting a shark’s dorsal fin, inspired by their recent book, “Bitcoin One Million.” However, the final product resembles Damien Hirst’s notorious work, “The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living,” which notably features a preserved tiger shark.
In terms of scale, while a great white shark can weigh over 5,000 pounds, Bitcoinius weighs significantly less, incorporating the shark and its glass enclosure, which measures nine feet by four feet. The journey from concept to installation was notably swift, taking just a handful of months.
Earlier this year, some members of the Bitcoin community celebrated the discovery of an orange nurse shark off the coast of Costa Rica, interpreting it as an “auspicious sign.” This particular shark had unusual skin conditions that were incredibly rare, as reported by National Geographic.
The Bitcoin narrative has also seen the emergence of various other symbolic art pieces, such as a 3,000-pound statue unveiled at a Bitcoin conference in Miami last year. This statue, modeled after New York’s iconic Charging Bull, adopted a cyberpunk aesthetic featuring laser eyes, capturing the region’s burgeoning prominence as a financial and technology hub.
Sigman emphasized that sharks are particularly fitting as a representation of Bitcoin since the cryptocurrency aims to transcend traditional finance. “Crypto is so much bigger than Wall Street,” he stated. “It’s really an ocean.”
