The vandalized statue honoring Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto in Lugano has been retrieved from Lake Lugano by municipal workers, launching restoration efforts backed by community support. The monument had been deliberately dumped into the lake after sustaining damage during the act of vandalism.
Satoshigallery, the project responsible for the statue, offered a 0.1 BTC reward for information leading to its recovery. A Change.org petition has since been established to raise funds for restoring the landmark, emphasizing its significance as a cultural symbol for the global Bitcoin community.
Created by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, the Lugano monument forms part of the Satoshigallery initiative and serves as a pilgrimage site for cryptocurrency supporters. It exists alongside other notable Bitcoin tributes worldwide, including Budapest’s mirrored-face bust, New York’s inflatable ‘Bitcoin rat,’ and Slovenia’s inaugural Bitcoin monument.
The recovery underscores the cultural resonance of cryptocurrency memorials, contrasting with Satoshi’s mythical status as Bitcoin’s anonymous creator. Nakamoto is estimated to hold approximately 1.096 million BTC worth over $125 billion, though their identity remains one of crypto’s enduring mysteries.