A statue honoring the mysterious Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto has been stolen from Parco Ciani in Lugano, Switzerland.
The theft was confirmed by Satoshigallery, the group behind the worldwide Satoshi statue initiative, which is now providing a 0.1 Bitcoin (BTC) reward (price over $11,000) for info resulting in its restoration.
“Where is Satoshi?” the group posted on X on Sunday. “You can steal our image however you’ll by no means have the ability to steal our souls,” the assertion learn, reaffirming their dedication to put in the statue in 21 cities all over the world regardless of the setback.
The paintings, designed by Italian artist and Bitcoin advocate Valentina Picozzi, was crafted from 304 chrome steel and corten blocks. It was unveiled in October final 12 months.
Related: The Mystery of Bitcoin’s Creator: Who Is Satoshi Nakamoto?
Bitcoin’s anonymity and collective identification
The Lugano statue includes a faceless determine at a laptop computer and is engineered to vanish when considered from the entrance or again, symbolizing the anonymity of Bitcoin’s creator and the concept “we’re all Satoshi.”
The idea reportedly took 18 months of examine and three months to construct. The statue was positioned in entrance of Villa Ciani throughout the Plan B Forum, a yearly blockchain occasion co-hosted by the town of Lugano and stablecoin issuer Tether.
Mayor Michele Foletti known as the statue a mirrored image of Lugano’s dedication to digital innovation. “Lugano is quickly changing into a number one hub for digital innovation, and this statue honors Satoshi Nakamoto, but in addition embodies the forward-thinking spirit that drives our metropolis,” he stated on the time.
Notably, this isn’t the primary tribute to Nakamoto in public artwork. In 2021, a bronze statue was unveiled in Budapest’s Graphisoft Park, designed with a mirrored face so viewers see themselves within the determine, referencing the concept Satoshi may very well be anybody.
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Nakamoto turns into eleventh richest particular person
Nakamoto grew to become the world’s eleventh richest particular person, at the very least in principle, after Bitcoin reached $120,000 final month. Nakamoto is believed to manage 1.096 million BTC, price over $131 billion.
To surpass Elon Musk, at present the world’s richest individual with a web price of over $404 billion, Bitcoin would wish to greater than triple in worth. Nakamoto’s wallets stay untouched, additional fueling the mystique round Bitcoin’s nameless founder.
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