Satoshi Nakamoto Statue Stolen in Lugano; 0.1 BTC Reward Offered
The Satoshi Nakamoto statue was stolen overnight from a public park in Lugano, Switzerland. The theft of the Satoshi Nakamoto statue, designed by Valentina Picozzi, marks a bold art heist: the faceless stainless steel sculpture took 18 months to conceive and three months to build. Unveiled in October 2024 as part of the city’s Plan B initiative with Swiss-Tether, the statue anchors Lugano’s ambition to become a cryptocurrency hub. Thieves removed the steel mounting plates without triggering security cameras, leaving only an empty platform. Speculation that the statue was dumped into Lake Ceresio led volunteer divers to search the water, but no trace was found. Local police say they may inspect the lakebed for evidence. Art collective SatoshiGallery has offered a 0.1 BTC reward for information leading to its recovery and affirmed plans to install similar symbols in 21 cities worldwide.
Neutral
The theft of the Satoshi Nakamoto statue is primarily a cultural and symbolic event rather than a market-driving development. In the short term, traders are unlikely to adjust Bitcoin positions based on an art heist, so immediate price impact should be minimal. Over the longer term, the incident highlights risks to physical crypto landmarks but does not alter Bitcoin’s fundamentals or network security. Continued reward incentives and reconstruction plans reinforce community resilience without affecting market liquidity or investor sentiment. Overall, the event is unlikely to shift trading strategies or market stability for BTC.