Disappearing Satoshi statue in Lugano stolen, 0.1 BTC offered for its return

A statue honoring the mysterious Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto has been stolen from Parco Ciani successful Lugano, Switzerland.

The theft was confirmed by Satoshigallery, the radical down the planetary Satoshi statue initiative, which is present offering a 0.1 Bitcoin (BTC) reward (worth implicit $11,000) for accusation starring to its recovery.

“Where is Satoshi?” the radical posted connected X connected Sunday. “You tin bargain our awesome but you volition ne'er beryllium capable to bargain our souls,” the connection read, reaffirming their committedness to instal the statue successful 21 cities astir the satellite contempt the setback.

The artwork, designed by Italian creator and Bitcoin advocator Valentina Picozzi, was crafted from 304 stainless steel and corten blocks. It was unveiled successful October past year.

Satoshi statue stolen. Source: Satoshigallery

Related: The Mystery of Bitcoin's Creator: Who Is Satoshi Nakamoto?

Bitcoin’s anonymity and corporate identity

The Lugano statue features a faceless fig astatine a laptop and is engineered to vanish erstwhile viewed from the beforehand oregon back, symbolizing the anonymity of Bitcoin’s creator and the thought that “we are each Satoshi.”

The conception reportedly took 18 months of survey and 3 months to build. The statue was placed successful beforehand of Villa Ciani during the Plan B Forum, a yearly blockchain lawsuit co-hosted by the metropolis of Lugano and stablecoin issuer Tether.

Mayor Michele Foletti called the statue a reflection of Lugano’s committedness to integer innovation. “Lugano is rapidly becoming a starring hub for integer innovation, and this statue honors Satoshi Nakamoto, but besides embodies the forward-thinking tone that drives our city,” helium said astatine the time.

Notably, this isn’t the archetypal tribute to Nakamoto successful nationalist art. In 2021, a bronze statue was unveiled successful Budapest’s Graphisoft Park, designed with a mirrored look truthful viewers spot themselves successful the figure, referencing the thought that Satoshi could beryllium anyone.

Related: Quantum menace to Bitcoin? 80,000 BTC conscionable moved aft 14 years

Nakamoto becomes 11th richest individual

Nakamoto became the world’s 11th richest individual, astatine slightest successful theory, aft Bitcoin reached $120,000 past month. Nakamoto is believed to power 1.096 cardinal BTC, worthy implicit $131 billion.

To surpass Elon Musk, presently the world’s richest idiosyncratic with a nett worthy of implicit $404 billion, Bitcoin would request to much than triple successful value. Nakamoto’s wallets stay untouched, further fueling the mystique astir Bitcoin’s anonymous founder.

Magazine: 10 crypto theories that missed arsenic severely arsenic ‘Peter Todd is Satoshi’