Satoshi Nakamoto Found! Swiss Police Recover Stolen Statue – What Does the Destruction of This Symbolic Figure Represent?

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Statue of Satoshi Nakamoto Stolen

In early August 2025, a statue of Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto was vandalized and thrown into a lake in the Swiss city of Lugano, prompting strong condemnation from the cryptocurrency community. The statue, designed by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, features a transparent hollow style, symbolizing Nakamoto’s anonymity and the spirit of decentralization.

According to the art group Satoshigallery, the statue has become an important symbol for the Bitcoin community since its installation at Parco Ciani park by the lakeside in Lugano in October 2024. However, it was forcibly removed from its pedestal and thrown into Lake Lugano by unknown individuals. The statue was only welded at two points on its feet, making the act of vandalism relatively easy.

Statue Found but Severely Damaged

According to the municipal authorities of Lugano, the statue was discovered in the nearby lake in “several pieces,” showing clear signs of intentional damage, indicating that the perpetrators were not motivated by resale or financial gain. The statue’s feet remained welded to the pedestal, showing that it was forcibly torn off before being thrown into the water.

X user Gritto speculated that the vandals might have been a group of young people who caused a ruckus while celebrating Swiss National Day (August 1). After the statue was destroyed, Satoshigallery offered a reward of 0.1 Bitcoin (approximately $11,000) for information, but the reward will no longer be issued since the police successfully recovered the statue.

Community Support and Subsequent Reconstruction Efforts

The Bitcoin community reacted strongly to this incident. Gabor Gurbacs, CEO of Pointsville, posted:

“This is a foolish and low-class act; I hope the perpetrators are found.”

Satoshigallery also responded on the X platform:

“You can destroy our symbol, but you cannot steal our soul.”

Additionally, Satoshigallery stated that they will continue their global project to install the same statue of Nakamoto in 21 cities worldwide, with installations already completed in El Salvador and Japan. Regarding the Swiss incident, the artist and team pledged to cover the costs of reconstructing and reinstalling the statue, provided that the city government is willing to assist in ensuring future safety.

A related petition has also been launched on Change.org, urging the city government to support the statue’s reconstruction. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino also shared the petition on X.