Swiss National Day Shocking Theft of Statue, Suspected to Have Been Thrown into Lake by Drunk Man
On August 2, the statue of Satoshi Nakamoto located in Villa Ciani Park, Lugano, Switzerland, was reported stolen. Designed by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, this “vanishing statue” has been an important symbol for the Bitcoin community since its unveiling in October 2024.
The first community member to notice the statue’s disappearance, Gritto, shared his account on social media, claiming he saw the statue intact on the night of August 1, Swiss National Day, before a group of intoxicated individuals passed by. Gritto speculated that this group may have easily moved the statue, which was only secured by two welding points, and thrown it into the nearby Lake Lugano.
He stated: “There are cameras all over the city, so I believe they tossed the statue into the lake next to it before heading home. They couldn’t have moved the statue in the city unnoticed, so my view is: the statue is in the lake, right next to where it originally was.”
The artistic organization Satoshigallery, responsible for installing the statue, immediately announced a reward of 0.1 Bitcoin (approximately $11,359) for any information that could assist in recovering the statue. Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, also expressed concern over the incident, confirming that an unknown individual had removed the statue.
Municipal workers retrieved fragments of the statue from the lake, confirming it had been maliciously destroyed. After a search, Lugano municipal workers successfully located the statue in the lake, but found it had been dismantled into several pieces, indicating that this was not a theft for monetary gain, but rather an act of pure vandalism. The statue was originally welded only at two points on its base, and these two fixation points remained in place, confirming that the statue was indeed removed artificially.
As the police successfully recovered the statue, Satoshigallery announced that the reward would not be issued. The organization stated firmly: “You can steal our symbol, but you can never steal our spirit. We stand united in our commitment to erect statues in 21 locations worldwide.”
The statue’s design is highly ingenious, made from 304 stainless steel and weathering steel, featuring a unique “vanishing” effect; when viewed from the front or back, the statue gradually disappears, symbolizing Satoshi Nakamoto’s anonymity and the concept of “we are all Satoshi.” According to the artist, this concept took 18 months of research and 3 months of construction to complete.
Bitcoin Community Outraged and Initiating Petition for Restoration
The Bitcoin community expressed strong outrage and dissatisfaction over this act of vandalism. Gabor Gurbacs, founder and CEO of blockchain loyalty rewards platform Pointsville, wrote on the X platform: “What a tasteless and foolish act. I hope they find the culprits.” Many community members believe that the incident was perpetrated by young people celebrating Swiss National Day while intoxicated. Bitcoin advocate Gritto speculated that the drunken revelers celebrating Swiss National Day could be the culprits behind the vandalism. Blockstream advisor Tuur Demeester expressed regret over the incident, suggesting that the next statue should be made from several cubic meters of granite to prevent destruction.
Supporters have launched a petition on Change.org, urging municipal officials to support the restoration of the statue. The petition states: “The artist and his Satoshigallery will bear the costs of remaking and providing the statue, provided it can be safely displayed.” This petition has also received support from Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino on social media.
Global Statue Project Continues, Symbolizing the Indomitable Spirit of Bitcoin
Despite the setback, Satoshigallery reiterated its commitment to advancing the plan to erect Satoshi Nakamoto statues in 21 locations worldwide, a figure that echoes Bitcoin’s total supply cap of 21 million, reinforcing principles of scarcity, decentralization, and indestructibility. Two additional statues have already been installed in El Zonte, the Bitcoin beach in El Salvador, and in Tokyo, Japan, with plans to install similar statues in 18 other key locations globally.
The statue was originally unveiled in collaboration between the city of Lugano and stablecoin issuer Tether during the Plan B forum, representing the city’s determination to become a global Bitcoin hub.
Lugano Mayor Michele Foletti stated at the time: “Lugano is rapidly becoming a leading center for digital innovation; this statue not only pays tribute to Satoshi Nakamoto but also embodies the forward-thinking spirit that drives our city’s development.”
This article is collaboratively reproduced from: Crypto City