Statue sinks into the lake—just who is erasing Satoshi Nakamoto?

By: Bright, Foresight News

On August 3, according to Bitcoin News, the Satoshi Nakamoto statue in Lugano, Switzerland, was stolen. Satoshigallery, the organizer behind the statue, offered a reward of 0.1 BTC for information leading to the recovery of the missing statue, immediately drawing attention from the crypto industry.

This incident is truly baffling—after all, whether Satoshi Nakamoto even exists as a real person remains unverified. Who would vandalize a symbol tied to no concrete individual?

The theft was first reported by X user @Grittoshi, who found only two holes left on the metal pedestal where the statue once stood. He suspected the sculpture had been thrown into the lake beside it.

Subsequently, Satoshigallery posted on X: "We are offering a 0.1 BTC reward to anyone who can help us recover the Satoshi Nakamoto statue stolen yesterday in Lugano. You may steal our logo, but you can never steal our soul. We stand together, committed to placing this statue in 21 locations worldwide."

Just one week earlier, Satoshigallery had unveiled its third Satoshi Nakamoto statue in Tokyo, Japan. Besides the stolen statue in Lugano, another Satoshi Nakamoto statue stands on a beach in El Salvador, known as the "Bitcoin Nation."

Tokyo, Japan

El Salvador, Bitcoin Beach

Fortunately, within a day, the city government of Lugano recovered the missing Satoshi Nakamoto statue from a nearby lake. Satoshigallery announced on X that the statue had been found and expressed gratitude to the Lugano municipal authorities.

"The 'Missing Satoshi' statue has gone missing"—an ironic metaphor.

On October 25, 2024, the city of Lugano, Switzerland, unveiled a statue honoring Bitcoin's anonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, in Ciani Park (Villa Ciani). The event was hosted by Tether and the city of Lugano under their joint Plan B initiative, which at the time aimed to transform Lugano into a global Bitcoin hub.

The stolen modern-style statue was designed by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, founder of Satoshigallery, following 18 months of research and design and three months of construction. Crafted from vertical layers of stainless and weathering steel, the statue appears to dissolve or vanish when viewed from certain angles—an illusion symbolizing Bitcoin’s anonymous origins and Satoshi Nakamoto’s universal identity.

Shortly afterward, a group of Lugano residents launched a public petition on Change.org, urging the municipal government to provide logistical and security support to restore the artwork. The artist herself pledged to cover reconstruction costs and related services, while Satoshigallery offered to create and donate a new replica at its own expense. They declared: "We must protect the symbols of innovation and freedom."

"This work represents far more than just a statue," said Luca Esposito, spokesperson for the petition organizers, who also run "Satoshi Spritz Lugano"—a public-facing Bitcoin education initiative. "We are not requesting any financial support from the city government," emphasized Luca Esposito. "We only commit to providing logistical support for the restoration and, together with the artist, finding a suitable, permanent, and secure location." The Lugano-based Satoshi Spritz movement is a grassroots organization dedicated to spreading Bitcoin-related knowledge, values, and principles through gatherings, educational programs, and outreach activities, particularly targeting youth.

He added: "Like Bitcoin itself, it symbolizes personal freedom, financial independence, and the right to privacy—values deeply rooted in Swiss tradition, extending beyond mere technological innovation."