The CEO of Parhelion, a company specializing in bitcoin mining, Ross Kelvin, has announced an ambitious project to create a massive statue of Prometheus on Alcatraz Island. The construction cost is estimated at $450 million, and the height of the future monument will be 450 feet, which is approximately 137 meters.
This is reported by Business • Media
Project Details and Symbolism of the Monument
The idea to erect the statue originated with Kelvin back in 2018, but it was postponed during Joe Biden’s presidency. Now, according to the entrepreneur, the project is returning to an active phase. Kelvin is convinced that President Trump will support the initiative, as he is also a proponent of the aesthetics of monumental art.
The monument is planned to be made of bronze and nickel alloy, and its surface will change shades depending on the lighting throughout the day. If the statue is realized, it will be taller than the main support of the Golden Gate Bridge and will surpass the Statue of Liberty.
Change of Status for Alcatraz and Future Plans
To begin construction, President Trump needs to change the status of Alcatraz Island from a national park to a national monument. It is worth noting that until 1963, Alcatraz was a notorious high-security prison. Kelvin plans to submit sketches of the colossus, as well as a plan for a technology museum, which will also be located on the island, by the end of January 2026.
The project is managed by the non-profit organization American Colossus, chaired by Kelvin himself. A manifesto reflecting the main idea of the monument has been published on the organization’s official website.
“The colossal monument to Prometheus proclaims that governments must unleash all economic dynamism to empower the hardworking individual and protect people from dehumanization and the degradation of their existence. The torch that Prometheus holds high burns for freedom from collective coercion and for the freedom of personal pursuit of meaning, purpose, wonder, and creative power.”
President Trump is known for his support of initiatives to create monuments. In particular, in July 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill came into effect, which allocates $40 million for the creation of the National Garden of American Heroes with 250 statues of prominent figures in the United States. The president also signed an executive order prioritizing classical style in civic architecture and initiated the construction of a ballroom in the White House.