The Satoshi Nakamoto statue, a bronze sculpture approximately 2.5 meters tall located in Lugano’s Parco Ciani, was recently recovered from Lake Lugano after being vandalized and deliberately thrown into the water. The statue was found in several broken fragments, which indicated that the damage was a result of vandalism rather than theft motivated by economic gain. Despite the violence inflicted upon the figure, the feet of the statue remained anchored to the pedestal in the park, suggesting that the limited securing mechanism at the feet was insufficient to prevent the act. This incident occurred in early August 2025, coinciding with Switzerland’s National Day celebrations, leading to speculation about the timing and possible motives behind the attack. Municipal divers recovered the broken statue from the lake for restoration, reflecting a swift community response. Such incidents highlight the importance of security risks in protecting public assets.
The bronze Satoshi Nakamoto statue was vandalized and thrown into Lake Lugano during Swiss National Day 2025.
Created by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi over nearly two years, the statue was revealed at the Plan Forum in October 2024, an event jointly organized by the city of Lugano and the cryptocurrency company Tether. The statue represented a significant cultural symbol, celebrating the enigmatic creator of Bitcoin and serving as an emblem of the decentralized currency movement. It was part of a broader global initiative by the art collective Satoshigallery, which aimed to install replicas of the Satoshi Nakamoto figure in 21 cities worldwide, further emphasizing its role as a landmark in crypto culture and contemporary public art. The community’s response was swift and passionate, underscoring the statue’s symbolic value.
Recovery efforts were undertaken by local council staff who retrieved the fragmented statue from the lake, while Satoshigallery offered a reward of 0.1 BTC for information leading to its recovery. Despite the reward, no immediate public response had been reported, although the collective issued a statement underscoring the resilience of the symbol beyond its physical form. The incident prompted calls from both local and crypto communities for the statue’s restoration and preservation, highlighting its importance as a cultural asset.
Reactions from the Bitcoin community expressed disappointment and condemnation, with prominent figures labeling the act as senseless vandalism. Online discussions speculated that intoxicated revelers celebrating the Swiss National Day might have caused the damage, with the proximity of the lake providing a convenient location to dispose of the statue. Security footage from the area may hold evidence of the perpetrators, though no arrests had been announced by early August 2025. The absence of theft for resale purposes suggests that the incident was driven by mischief or protest rather than financial motives, raising concerns about the vulnerability of public artworks and the need for improved safeguarding measures.
