- A statue of Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto was stolen from Parco Ciani in Lugano, Switzerland.
- The group behind the statue, Satoshigallery, is offering a $11,000 reward in Bitcoin for information leading to its recovery.
- The artwork symbolizes Anonymity in Bitcoin and was unveiled at a major blockchain event in October 2023.
- Local officials say the statue represents Lugano’s commitment to digital innovation.
- Satoshi Nakamoto is believed to hold Bitcoin worth over $131 billion, making him the world’s 11th richest individual on paper.
A statue dedicated to the mysterious Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto was stolen from Parco Ciani in Lugano, Switzerland, according to the group Satoshigallery. The theft took place months after the statue’s public unveiling in October 2023.
Satoshigallery confirmed the incident and announced a 0.1 Bitcoin reward—valued at over $11,000—for anyone who can help recover the stolen sculpture. The group reaffirmed its plan to display the Nakamoto statue in 21 cities worldwide, noting this setback would not change their initiative.
The statue, created by Italian artist and Bitcoin advocate Valentina Picozzi, used 304 stainless steel and corten blocks. It was designed to emphasize Bitcoin’s anonymous origins by featuring a faceless figure using a laptop. The artwork is engineered to appear invisible when viewed directly from the front or back, representing the idea that “we are all Satoshi”.
The statue was positioned outside Villa Ciani during the annual Plan B Forum—a blockchain event co-hosted by the city and stablecoin issuer Tether. Lugano Mayor Michele Foletti stated at the unveiling, “Lugano is rapidly becoming a leading hub for digital innovation, and this statue honors Satoshi Nakamoto, but also embodies the forward-thinking spirit that drives our city.”
This is not the first public tribute to Satoshi Nakamoto; in 2021, a mirrored bronze statue was installed in Budapest’s Graphisoft Park. Like the Lugano monument, it also references the collective identity behind Bitcoin by allowing viewers to see themselves reflected in the artwork.
Satoshi Nakamoto, whose true identity remains unknown, is believed to control 1.096 million BTC—worth more than $131 billion when Bitcoin reached $120,000 in recent weeks. Nakamoto’s cryptocurrency holdings would place him among the world’s richest individuals, with experts noting these Bitcoins have never been moved.
For more background on Nakamoto and theories about Bitcoin’s beginnings, see the article, The Mystery of Bitcoin’s Creator: Who Is Satoshi Nakamoto?.
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