tl;dr
Bitcoin unveils a 9-foot shark sculpture, *Bitcoinius Maximus*, as a symbol of resilience and cultural identity at the Bitcoin Alpha conference, blending art, finance, and community narratives.
**Bitcoin’s New Mascot: A Shark with 100 Teeth**
In a bold move to redefine the image of cryptocurrency, Bitcoin has acquired a new mascot: a great white shark named *Bitcoinius Maximus*. Unveiled at the Bitcoin Alpha “unconference” in Santa Monica, California, the sculpture—a lifelike shark suspended in a glass box under glowing orange lights—has become a striking symbol of the digital asset’s evolving identity.
The 9-foot-tall sculpture, which weighs a fraction of a real great white shark, was designed to embody Bitcoin’s resilience and adaptability. Organizers Ben Sigman and Fred Krueger, a mathematician and former prop trader, chose the shark as a metaphor for Bitcoin’s potential to outlast traditional assets like gold and cash. “Sharks are ancient, patient predators that have survived for millions of years,” Sigman explained. “Bitcoin, too, is built to endure.”
The sculpture’s name, *Bitcoinius Maximus*, draws parallels to the natural world’s apex predators. Sigman likened Bitcoin’s 24/7 global network to sharks that must keep swimming to breathe, emphasizing the asset’s constant, uninterrupted operation. The piece also nods to Damien Hirst’s iconic *The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living*, which features a tiger shark preserved in formaldehyde—a nod to the longevity and permanence of Bitcoin’s code.
The shark’s debut at Bitcoin Alpha wasn’t just an artistic statement. It served as a backdrop for private discussions among entrepreneurs and investors, cementing its role as a focal point for the event. Sigman and Krueger plan to expand the concept into a pop-up installation called *Living with Bitcoin*, set to debut on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade. The area’s empty storefronts, they say, offer a “natural” space to explore Bitcoin’s intersection with art, culture, and finance.
This isn’t the first time Bitcoin enthusiasts have turned to nature for symbolism. In 2013, entrepreneur Roger Ver, known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” popularized the honey badger as a spirit animal for the asset, while a 3,000-pound cyberpunk-inspired bull statue at a Miami conference in 2022 paid homage to Wall Street’s traditional symbols. But Sigman argues that sharks better capture Bitcoin’s broader ambitions. “Crypto is so much bigger than Wall Street. It’s really an ocean,” he said.
The choice of a shark also reflects Bitcoin’s growing influence beyond traditional finance. Earlier this year, some crypto enthusiasts pointed to the discovery of a rare orange nurse shark in Costa Rica as a “sign” of Bitcoin’s rising prominence. While scientists noted the animal’s unique skin conditions, the coincidence underscored the community’s tendency to find meaning in the natural world.
For Sigman and Krueger, the shark isn’t just a symbol—it’s a statement. “We’re not declaring sharks as Bitcoin’s official mascot,” Sigman clarified. “That’s not how Bitcoin works. It’s about the community and the narrative.”
As *Bitcoinius Maximus* continues its journey from a conference centerpiece to a pop-up art installation, it reinforces Bitcoin’s identity as both a financial innovation and a cultural phenomenon. In a world where tradition clashes with disruption, the shark’s razor-sharp teeth and relentless drive may well become the new emblem of a digital future.