The Satoshi Nakamoto statue, a symbol of Bitcoin located in Lugano, Switzerland, has been successfully recovered after being vandalized.
Municipal workers retrieved pieces of the monument from Lake Lugano within Parco Ciani.
Satoshigallery, an organization connected to the statue, offered a 0.1 BTC reward (approximately $11,000) for its recovery. This reward significantly exceeded amounts typical for art recovery.
The Bitcoin community widely condemned the act of vandalism. Prominent figures including Gabor Gurbacs and Paolo Ardoino voiced strong support for the statue project, reflecting collective disappointment and resilience.
The statue, conceptualized and created by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, represents Bitcoin’s cultural impact. Its creation involved an extensive planning and construction process lasting 21 months prior to its unveiling.
This act of vandalism and the subsequent recovery underscores both Bitcoin’s growing cultural significance and the community’s resolve to defend its symbols.