Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Statue Stolen in Lugano 0.1 BTC Reward Offered for Clues

Bitcoin's 21-city public art project suffered a setback on August 3 when the Satoshi Nakamoto statue in Lugano, Switzerland, was stolen. The Satoshi Gallery announced the theft and offered a 0.1 Bitcoin reward for any information leading to its recovery [1]. Despite the symbolic and community-focused nature of the project, the theft has highlighted the vulnerabilities of public crypto-themed installations [1].

The incident has not triggered significant reactions from financial markets or institutions, as the statue is viewed more as an anecdotal representation than a direct on-chain event [1]. The spokesperson for the Satoshi Gallery emphasized that the broader goal of placing the statues in 21 cities remains unchanged. The community remains committed to its mission, with no notable comments from prominent industry figures or influencers [1].

Bitcoin’s price remained stable at $113,797.32 on August 3, 2025, with a market cap of $2.26 trillion and a dominance of 61.48%. Over the past 90 days, Bitcoin has seen a 20.66% increase in value, according to CoinMarketCap data [1].

The theft is considered a rare occurrence in the history of cryptocurrency-related public monuments, and it has sparked discussions on improving the security of publicly displayed crypto art [1]. Analysis by Coincu suggests that the incident may encourage the adoption of enhanced safety measures for similar installations to protect high-profile artistic works [1].

Satoshi Gallery has adopted a defiant stance, stating, “You can steal our symbol, but you can never steal our soul,” highlighting the resilience of the community [1]. The project’s focus remains on reclaiming the artwork and reaffirming its dedication to its goals.

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Source: [1] Bitcoin Statue Stolen in Lugano; Reward Offered for Information (https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/688f589531f6e26bea1932ab/)