Bitcoin Statue Stolen in Lugano, Switzerland, Sparks Community Attention
Lugano, Switzerland, known as the “Bitcoin City,” has recently experienced the theft of its Bitcoin symbol, the “Satoshi Nakamoto Statue,” drawing widespread attention from the crypto community and local residents.
(Background: In the face of quantum attacks, should Satoshi’s 1.09 million Bitcoins be moved?)
(Context: As AI threatens human existence, we need Satoshi’s design philosophy more than ever.)
Earlier today, the Bitcoin statue in Lugano, a public artwork symbolizing Satoshi Nakamoto, was discovered to be stolen. According to a post by the Satoshigallery team in the afternoon, the statue was taken the previous day. To solicit clues for its recovery, the team is offering a reward of 0.1 Bitcoin. This incident has quickly gained traction within the community, becoming a focal point of concern for both the blockchain circle and local residents.
Satoshigallery is curated by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, who began engaging with Bitcoin in 2012 and has evolved into a creator and curator promoting crypto culture through art and activism. One of her most representative projects is the globally touring “Satoshi Nakamoto Iron Statue,” which was first installed in Lugano, Switzerland. The statue features a unique visual illusion design, appearing to disappear when viewed from the front, symbolizing the anonymity and decentralized identity of Bitcoin’s founder. They plan to install similar statues in at least 21 cities worldwide.
Where is Satoshi?
We are offering 0.1 btc to whoever will help us recovering the Statue of Satoshi Nakamoto that was stolen yesterday in Lugano. You can steal our symbol but you will never be able to steal our souls. Thank you all for the nice messages. We are all in this…https://t.co/cAGCqg4CuP
Incident Timeline: From National Day to Statue’s Disappearance
According to X user @Grittoshi’s post on the 3rd, the statue was still intact on the night of August 1st, Swiss National Day. He noted that many young people were gathered at the outdoor café beside the statue that evening, suggesting that the theft might be related to the festive atmosphere of the National Day.
“I was in the park on the night of August 1st, and the statue was still there. It was Swiss National Day, and many young people were drinking at the outdoor café beside the statue. On their way home, they might have moved the statue ‘for fun.’
Potential Impact: Symbolic Theft and Community Identity
The theft of the Satoshi Nakamoto statue, as a symbol of the spirit of blockchain, represents not just a loss of property but also resonates with the community’s collective identity surrounding “decentralization” and “trust.” The Satoshigallery team emphasized on X:
“You can steal our symbol, but you will never be able to steal our souls.”
