Swiss National Day Shocks with Statue Theft, Suspected to Have Been Thrown into Lake by Drunken Man
On August 2, the statue of Satoshi Nakamoto located in Villa Ciani Park, Lugano, Switzerland, was reported stolen. This “vanishing statue,” designed by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, 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 eyewitness account on social media, claiming he saw the statue intact on the night of August 1, Swiss National Day, but later observed a group of drunken individuals passing by the site. Gritto speculated that this group might have easily moved the statue, which was secured by only two welding points, and thrown it into the nearby Lake Lugano.
He stated, “There are cameras all over the city, so I think they threw the statue into the lake before going home. It’s unlikely they could have moved the statue unnoticed in the city, 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 unknown individuals had removed the statue.
Municipal workers retrieved fragments of the statue from the lake, confirming it had been maliciously destroyed. After a search, they successfully found the statue but noted it had been broken into several pieces, indicating that this was not a theft for monetary gain, but rather an act of pure vandalism. The statue was originally secured by only two welding points on its base, which remained in place, confirming that the statue had indeed been forcibly removed.
Since the police successfully recovered the statue, Satoshigallery announced that the reward would not be paid out. The organization expressed a firm stance in a statement: “You can steal our symbol, but you can never steal our spirit. We stand united in our commitment to erect statues in 21 locations around the world.”
The statue’s design is highly ingenious, made of 304 stainless steel and weather-resistant steel, featuring a unique “vanishing” effect; when viewed from the front or back, the statue gradually disappears, symbolizing Satoshi Nakamoto’s anonymity and the idea that “we are all Satoshi.” According to the artist, this concept was completed after 18 months of research and 3 months of construction.
Bitcoin Community Outraged, Petition Launched on Change.org for Restoration
The Bitcoin community expressed strong outrage and dissatisfaction over the vandalism. Gabor Gurbacs, founder and CEO of the blockchain loyalty reward platform Pointsville, wrote on platform X: “What a tasteless and foolish act. I hope they find the perpetrators.” Many community members believe that the incident was caused by drunken young people celebrating Swiss National Day. Bitcoin advocate Gritto speculated that the drunken revelers celebrating Swiss National Day might be the culprits of the vandalism. Blockstream advisor Tuur Demeester expressed regret over the incident and suggested that the next statue should be made from several cubic meters of granite to prevent destruction.
Supporters launched a petition on Change.org, urging government officials to support the restoration of the statue. The petition stated: “The artist and his Satoshigallery will bear the cost of remaking and providing the statue, provided it can be safely displayed.” This petition also received support from Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, who shared it 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 number 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, Bitcoin Beach, El Salvador, and Tokyo, Japan, with plans to install similar statues in 18 other key locations around the globe.
The statue was initially unveiled in conjunction with the Plan B forum by the city of Lugano and stablecoin issuer Tether, 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 driving our city’s development.”
This article is collaboratively republished from: Crypto City