Municipal workers in Lugano, Switzerland, have recovered the city’s well-known Satoshi Nakamoto statue from Lake Lugano after it was vandalized and thrown into the water over the weekend.
The damage comes as a blow to both the city and the global Bitcoin community, which viewed the monument as a powerful symbol of the cryptocurrency’s origins and philosophy.
Iconic Artwork Damaged During Weekend Incident
The statue, located in Parco Ciani near the lakefront, was found broken into several pieces—some on the shore and others in the lake. Authorities believe that the vandals forcibly removed the artwork from its mounting base before discarding it.
Early reports of the incident surfaced on Saturday when locals noticed the statue missing and shared photos of the empty platform online.
The piece was created by Valentina Picozzi, an Italian artist and long-time Bitcoin supporter. Through her initiative, Satoshigallery, Picozzi has used art to connect people with Bitcoin’s cultural and philosophical ideas.
The damaged statue, designed with a unique optical illusion to resemble digital code, had become a landmark since its unveiling in October 2024 during the Plan B Forum, a blockchain conference supported by Lugano and stablecoin company Tether.
Satoshigallery has offered a reward of 0.1 BTC—currently worth over $11,000—for any information leading to those responsible for the act. In a public statement, the collective emphasized that while the symbol was taken, their values remain strong. They also reaffirmed their plan to install 21 similar statues globally as part of their long-term vision.
Public Reactions and Theories
Some believe the vandalism may have been the result of partying gone too far during celebrations for Swiss National Day. One Bitcoin advocate, known by the name Gritto, speculated online that the damage could have been caused by intoxicated revelers.
A petition has since emerged on Change.org calling for the statue’s restoration, with organizers pledging to fund the project themselves. The community response highlights how much the artwork meant to Bitcoin supporters and local residents alike.