OKX app offers multilingual support, copy trading, and API solutions for global traders. New users enjoy exclusive fee discounts!
Download for Android Download for IOS
Swiss authorities have retrieved the controversial Satoshi Nakamoto statue from Lake Lugano after unknown vandals dismantled and submerged the artwork over the weekend. The bronze monument honoring Bitcoin's pseudonymous creator was discovered in fragments along the shoreline, confirming deliberate destruction rather than theft for profit.
Municipal workers located the artwork's pieces scattered across the lakebed and banks on Monday morning. Forensic examination revealed the assailants had targeted the statue's weak points - only two small welds connected the figure to its base. "This was clearly an act of ideological vandalism, not financial gain," noted a parks department spokesperson.
The incident has sparked outrage across cryptocurrency circles, with Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino and other industry leaders condemning the attack. Meanwhile, blockchain advocate Gritto speculated the vandalism might have occurred during Switzerland's National Day celebrations, suggesting alcohol-fueled mischief rather than anti-crypto sentiment.
Satoshigallery, the organization behind the installation, reaffirmed plans to erect similar monuments in 【21】 locations worldwide despite the setback. The group had offered a 0.1 BTC bounty (worth approximately 【$11,000】) for information leading to the perpetrators. ——"Our symbols can be broken, but the decentralized spirit remains unshaken,"—— declared their official statement.
Created by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, the disappearing/reappearing statue took 【21 months】 to design - a deliberate nod to Bitcoin's capped supply. Since its October 2024 unveiling, the interactive sculpture had become a pilgrimage site for crypto enthusiasts, with visitors often leaving small Bitcoin tributes at its base.
Local authorities confirm the damaged artwork is undergoing restoration while police investigate potential leads. The incident has unexpectedly boosted tourism to Parco Ciani, with curious visitors flocking to see the empty plinth that once held cryptocurrency's most enigmatic symbol.