In a bizarre turn of events, the iconic Satoshi Nakamoto statue in Lugano, Switzerland — a tribute to the anonymous creator of Bitcoin (BTC) — has gone missing. The artist behind the installation and the Satoshigallery project is now offering a 0.1 BTC reward for any information leading to its recovery.
A Symbol of Bitcoin’s Global Legacy — Gone
The statue, unveiled in October 2024 during the Plan B Forum, was created by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi. Designed as a sight-line illusion, the piece portrayed Nakamoto “fading into code,” aligning with the pseudonymous founder’s mysterious identity.
The statue was part of Lugano’s high-profile initiative to become a Bitcoin capital of Europe, supported by Swiss city officials and Tether. Since then, it had become a symbol of crypto adoption and decentralization.
“The layers of disappearing stripes were only empty ground this morning,” said a local resident.
Who Took Satoshi?
The theft was first flagged by crypto user @Grittoshi on X (formerly Twitter), who speculated it might have been dumped into the nearby lake beside the sculpture site.
No official suspects have been named yet, and authorities have launched an investigation. The motive remains unclear — whether it was an anti-crypto statement, a stunt, or simply art theft.
0.1 BTC Reward for Information
Satoshigallery, the art collective behind the statue, is offering a 0.1 BTC (~$11,300) reward to anyone who can help recover the piece. In a statement, the team said:
“You can steal our symbol, but you will never be able to steal our souls. We are all in this together and committed to placing the statue in 21 locations around the world.”
A Growing Global Symbol
Despite the theft, the statue’s legacy lives on. The project aims to replicate and install versions of the piece across 21 global cities — a nod to Bitcoin’s 21 million coin cap.
As Lugano strengthens its Bitcoin-first policies and hosts major crypto events, the theft has sparked fresh attention — and perhaps unintentionally amplified the message of Satoshi’s global impact.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.