Satoshi Nakamoto Statue Stolen in Lugano, Artist Issues Bitcoin Reward for Return
Lugano’s tribute to the anonymous creator of Bitcoin has mysteriously vanished, prompting an appeal from the artist and renewed attention on the symbolic piece.
The installation — a statue of Satoshi Nakamoto composed of vertical steel slats that formed a ghostlike image when viewed from the right angle — was removed sometime before dawn on August 4. Designed by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, the statue was unveiled during the Plan B Bitcoin Forum in October 2024 as part of Lugano’s broader push to position itself as a global center for digital assets.
Now, only bare ground remains where the figure once stood.
The theft was first reported by social media user @Grittoshi, who speculated the statue may have been thrown into the adjacent lake. Authorities have not confirmed that theory, and no official leads have been announced.
In response, Picozzi’s collective, Satoshigallery, has offered a 0.1 BTC reward to anyone who can help recover the statue. In a statement posted on X, the group wrote:
“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 places around the world.”
Picozzi’s artwork was not just a physical tribute, but a conceptual one — emphasizing Satoshi’s anonymity and Bitcoin’s decentralized legacy. Its layered slats represented both the emergence and disappearance of the figure who launched a monetary revolution.
The statue had become a popular destination for crypto enthusiasts visiting Lugano, a city backed by Swiss-Tether in its efforts to adopt and promote digital currencies.
As of now, there is no word on who may be responsible for the theft or what motivated it. But for many in the crypto community, the statue’s absence is just as meaningful as its presence — a reminder of the enduring mystery behind the name Satoshi Nakamoto.
