The Bitcoin community was thrown into confusion after the theft of the Satoshi Nakamoto statue in Lugano. The statue was quickly found in a nearby lake, sparking discussions among community members.
What Happened to the Satoshi Statue?
The statue, located at Parco Ciani, was reported missing by user @Grittoshi on social media platform X. The group Satoshigallery confirmed the theft and offered a reward of 0.1 BTC (approximately $11,000) for information leading to its recovery.
"You can steal our symbol but you will never be able to steal our souls. Thank you all for the nice messages," the group stated. The statue was later found in the lake, as suspected by @Grittoshi.
Satoshi Statues Around the World
Designed by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, this statue was installed in Lugano in October 2024 as part of the city’s initiative to become a global Bitcoin hub. The statue is also located in other areas, including Bitcoin Beach in El Salvador and a newly unveiled statue in Tokyo, Japan. The concept of the statue symbolizes Nakamoto's anonymity and was designed with a disappearing effect.
Bitcoin Community Reaction and Future Plans
The Bitcoin community is actively supporting Satoshigallery. Despite the theft incident, the group plans to install Satoshi Nakamoto statues in 21 cities worldwide, continuing their mission to promote Bitcoin culture. The unfortunate incident in Lugano will not deter their initiative, with plans for new installations underway.
The theft of the Satoshi Nakamoto statue attracted attention from the Bitcoin community and raised questions about anonymity culture in cryptocurrency. Regardless of the unfortunate incident, the initiative to install statues continues to evolve, highlighting the significance of Bitcoin in modern society.
