Missing Satoshi Nakamoto Statue Found in Lugano Lake Days After Theft
The statue of Satoshi Nakamoto—an artistic tribute to Bitcoin’s mysterious creator—has been recovered from a lake in Lugano, days after it was reported missing. Designed by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, the installation is known for its striking illusion: a layered structure that transforms into lines of code when viewed directly. It had been on display since late 2024.
The disappearance was first reported by Satoshigallery, the project led by Picozzi, on August 3. A photo shared on X (formerly Twitter) showed the empty ground where the statue once stood. The piece was originally unveiled on October 25, 2024, during Plan B’s Bitcoin Forum, as part of Lugano’s push—alongside Swiss-Tether—to become a global Bitcoin hub.
Clues to the statue’s whereabouts surfaced via X user @Grittoshi, who suspected it had been dumped in the adjacent lake during Swiss National Day celebrations on August 1. “There are cameras everywhere in the city,” the user noted. “I assume they just threw it into the lake before heading home—no way they carried it through the city unnoticed.”
Shortly afterward, Satoshigallery confirmed the statue had been recovered from the lake. The team had earlier offered a 0.1 BTC reward for help locating the sculpture. “You can steal our symbol, but you’ll never steal our souls,” the gallery posted. “We remain committed to placing this statue in 21 locations across the world.”
The extent of the statue’s damage is still being assessed. Picozzi has suggested restoring it using Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken objects with gold, silver, or platinum-infused lacquer—highlighting the flaws rather than hiding them. A petition has since been launched, calling on the city of Lugano to provide logistical and security support for the restoration. Picozzi has offered to cover all restoration costs herself.
The incident comes just over a week after Satoshigallery unveiled its third Satoshi statue—this one installed in Tokyo—as part of an ongoing international series commemorating Bitcoin’s origin.
