3-8-2025 – A statue honoring Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, was stolen today from Ciani Park in Lugano, Switzerland, local authorities confirmed. The theft, occurred less than a year after the statue’s unveiling on October 25, 2024, during the Plan ₿ Forum, a joint initiative by Tether and the City of Lugano to promote blockchain innovation.
The life-sized artwork, crafted by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, took 21 months to complete, including 18 months of research and three months of construction. Its unique design, featuring a faceless figure that appears to vanish when viewed from certain angles, symbolized Nakamoto’s elusive identity and Bitcoin’s decentralized ethos. The statue was a centerpiece of Lugano’s push to become a global hub for digital finance, earning the city the nickname “Bitcoin City.”Lugano police are investigating the theft, with no suspects identified yet.
The statue’s removal has raised concerns about security at Ciani Park, a prominent public space hosting the city’s permanent art collection. Mayor Michele Foletti, a vocal supporter of the Plan ₿ initiative, expressed disappointment, noting the statue’s cultural and symbolic significance to Lugano’s blockchain community.
