Where Is Satoshi Nakamoto? Statue Honoring the Bitcoin Creator Gets Stolen in Lugano

The Satoshi Nakamoto statue, a unique sight-line illusion created by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, has been stolen from its location in Lugano, Switzerland. The artwork, which depicted the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin seemingly dissolving into code, was a prominent feature of Lugano’s efforts to establish itself as a global Bitcoin hub.

The statue’s disappearance was first reported on X (formerly Twitter) by user @Grittoshi, who speculated that it had been thrown into a nearby lake. This incident occurred just over a week after the unveiling of a third Satoshi Nakamoto statue by Satoshi Gallery in Tokyo, Japan, highlighting the vulnerability of public art installations, especially those with a high-profile subject matter.

The statue’s unveiling in Lugano on October 25th, 2024, coincided with Plan B’s Bitcoin forum and showcased the city’s ambitions in the cryptocurrency space, alongside Swiss-Tether’s involvement. The artwork’s innovative design, using layers of disappearing stripes to create the illusion of Satoshi Nakamoto, had garnered significant attention. The theft represents a loss not only to the city’s artistic landscape but also to its efforts to brand itself within the cryptocurrency community.

Satoshi Gallery, the artistic project led by Picozzi, responded swiftly to the theft, offering a reward of 0.1 BTC (approximately $3,000 depending on the current Bitcoin price) for information leading to the statue’s recovery. Their X post emphasized their commitment to the project, declaring, “You can steal our symbol but you will never be able to steal our souls. We are all in this together and committed to place the statue in 21 places around the world.” This statement suggests a plan for broader dissemination of the artwork, despite the setback in Lugano.

The theft raises questions about security measures surrounding public art installations, especially those located in high-traffic areas and possessing significant symbolic value. The investigation into the theft is ongoing, and the community awaits updates on the recovery of the stolen statue and the identification of those responsible. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges in protecting public art from vandalism and theft, particularly pieces that hold cultural or economic significance.