Bitcoin News Today: Satoshi Nakamoto Statue Stolen in Switzerland Then Recovered from Lake

A Satoshi Nakamoto statue located in Lugano, Switzerland, was reported stolen on August 2, 2025. The statue, installed by the art group Satoshigallery, was offered as a tribute to the enigmatic founder of Bitcoin. The group immediately responded by offering a reward of 0.1 Bitcoin for information leading to the statue’s recovery, as announced on their official social media account [1]. The theft sparked a swift community-led effort to locate the missing artwork, with local figures like "Gritto" suggesting it might have been thrown into Lake Lugano [1].

The statue was later confirmed to have been recovered from the lake following the collaborative search. This incident has underscored the intersection of cryptocurrency culture and public art, as the piece was not only a tribute to a foundational figure in the blockchain space but also a symbol of the growing influence of crypto-related projects in mainstream culture [1]. The artist, Valentina Picozzi, is known for her involvement in various blockchain art initiatives, further reinforcing the significance of the statue’s theft and subsequent retrieval [1].

Interestingly, despite the high-profile nature of the artwork and the location—Lugano being a hub for crypto and tech innovation—there were no notable effects on major cryptocurrency markets. Prices of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) remained stable in the wake of the event, indicating that the theft did not trigger immediate financial concerns or volatility [1]. The community’s response has been primarily focused on the symbolic and cultural implications rather than economic ones, with many expressing a desire to restore and protect such representations of blockchain history [1].

The theft and recovery of the statue also raise questions about the security of public art associated with digital assets and decentralized movements. As crypto-related art installations become more common, the incident highlights the need for robust measures to protect them. While financial markets appear unaffected, the event signals a broader conversation about the cultural capital of the cryptocurrency space and how such expressions should be preserved and safeguarded [1].

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[1] https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/688f97dea21b836c301015f1/