The statue honoring Nakamoto Atoshi, the founder of Bitcoin’s pseudonym, has disappeared from its exhibition location in Lugano, Switzerland.
One of three created in honor of Nakamoto, the statue was last seen at Villasiani Park before it was stolen.
Where is Nakamoto At Image?
On August 2nd, a report was revealed that confirmed theft of the Nakamoto statue.
The first sign of the statue’s loss came from Gritto, a social media user who shared concerns online.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino responded to the news, stating that an unknown individual was responsible for the removal of the statue.
In the aftermath, Gritt shared his own theory about the loss of statues.
He claimed that the statue was unharmed on the night of August 1st, Swiss National Day, and was seen just before a group of drunk individuals passed by.
Gritto claimed that the group could easily move through statues where only two points were secured. He suggested that they could throw it into a nearby lake without being noticed.
“There are cameras everywhere in town, so I think they just threw them on the side of the lake before they got home. I don’t think they were able to carry it in town without realizing it.
0.1 Bitcoin Bounty offers to retrieve stolen artwork
Meanwhile, the bitcoin-centric organization Satoshi Gallery has launched prize money to recover stolen artwork.
The organization offers 0.1 BTC worth around $11,359 to anyone who provides information that leads to the return of the statue.
Plan B, the Tether Assistance Initiative, and the City of Lugano originally unveiled the statue in October 2024.
The statue stood in front of Villa Siani, symbolizing Nakamoto’s vision of Bitcoin. It also represents his retreat from the public eye after creating cryptocurrency.
In particular, its unique design allows the observer to disappear from view as it gradually changes its perspective. This represents Satoshi’s elusive nature and the continued legacy of his creation.
The Lugano statue is part of a global effort to commemorate Nakamoto’s heritage through 21 identical facilities around the world.
Since debuting at Lugano, organizers have unveiled two more statues in April 2025 at El Salvador (known as Bitcoin Beach) and the other El Salvador (known as Bitcoin Beach).
Despite the set-up in Switzerland, Satoshi Gallery has reaffirmed its commitment to the initiative.
The group has already revealed plans to install 18 more statues in major locations around the world. This initiative continues its mission to celebrate Bitcoin’s origins and decentralized spirit.
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