The Satoshi Nakamoto statue was dismembered and thrown into the lake, Tether called on thousands to petition for its reconstruction.

The statue of Satoshi Nakamoto, a symbol of the spirit of encryption in Lugano, Switzerland, was damaged by a lake, and the CEO of Tether gathered thousands of people to sign the city government to restore it. (Synopsis: Satoshi statue stolen in Lugano, Switzerland, creator offers 0.1 BTC reward) (Background supplement: When AI threatens the survival of human beings, we need Satoshi's design philosophy more) Lugano, Switzerland's "crypto city", has been deeply rooted in Plan B in recent years and has stood firm in the stronghold of crypto life in Europe. However, the Satoshi Nakamoto statue, which symbolizes the decentralized spirit of Bitcoin, was sabotaged and stolen by people during the Swiss National Day event on August 3, and thrown into Lake Lugano next to the city, and although it was salvaged that night, it still left obvious damage on the statue. Is it "anti-encryption" or simply the vandalism of drunk youth? The incident quickly attracted attention in the global crypto community. Where is Satoshi? We are offering 0.1 btc to whoever will help us recovering the Statue of Satoshi Nakamoto that was stolen yesterday in Lugano. You can steal our symbol but you will never be able to steal our souls. Thank you all for the nice messages. We are all in this… pic.twitter.com/iGrBOdVYhe — Satoshigallery (@satoshigallery) August 3, 2025 The statue was unveiled on October 25, 2024 in Ciani Park by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi Crafted from stainless steel and weathering steel, it was researched in 18 months and completed in 3 months, and features a faceless design that echoes the anonymity of Bitcoin's founders and suggests that "we are all Satoshi Nakamoto". After its unveiling, it became a representative landmark of Lugano's Plan B initiative in partnership with stablecoin issuer Tether. According to local media reports, the bottom of the statue is fixed with only a few solder joints, which is suspected to have been pulled down by someone drunk and pranked and thrown in the lake, not targeted sabotage. At one point, art team Satoshigallery offered a reward of 0.1 BTC for leads. Thousands of people signed a petition to restore the statue After the incident, the Bitcoin community signed a sign of solidarity with local residents. On August 8, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino announced on social platforms that it had collected 1,000 signatures and officially submitted a restoration petition to the city. He publicly appealed: "We need the assistance of the Municipality of Lugano to safely reinstall the statue. Thanks everyone! 1000 signatures achieved! — Paolo Ardoino (@paoloardoino) August 8, 2025 Proponents argue that the statue carries the values of "personal freedom, financial independence and privacy" and that the restoration project is not only a restoration of works of art, but also a symbol of a city's support for a "crypto vision." The petition also recommends that the city review the way statues are fixed and monitored to reduce the risk of similar incidents happening again. Related stories GENIUS Compliant Stablecoin = Skinned CBDC ? Experts warn: comprehensive monitoring destroys the spirit of decentralization Full text of speech" Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Dark Web Silk Road: Adhere to the spirit of BTC, unity, decentralization is free "Satoshi statue was dismembered and thrown into the lake, Tether called on thousands of people to petition to initiate reconstruction" This article was first published in BlockTempo's "Dynamic Trend - The Most Influential Blockchain News Media".