Original｜Odaily Planet Daily (@OdailyChina)
When it comes to Lugano, many people may be quite unfamiliar with this city, but today, it has become the focus of attention in the crypto industry due to the "theft of the Satoshi Nakamoto statue."
It is understood that this city, located in the Italian-speaking region at the southernmost part of Switzerland, has a population of only about 60,000, yet it is Switzerland's third most important financial center, as well as a hub for conferences, banking, and business. Additionally, it is a beautifully landscaped city with many parks.
Perhaps benefiting from its unique geographical location and favorable environment, last year, at the third Plan B forum co-hosted by stablecoin giant Tether and the city of Lugano, both parties jointly unveiled a "real-life statue" honoring Bitcoin's founder, Satoshi Nakamoto. This event was also recorded by Tether on its official website as one of the key promotional examples of the year.
This real-life statue is located in Ciani Park (Villa Ciani) in Lugano and was designed by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, taking 18 months of research and 3 months of construction to complete. Notably, according to Tether's official press release, "The design of the statue is intended to play with perception; as the observer's viewpoint changes, it gradually disappears, symbolizing Satoshi Nakamoto's gradual fade from the public eye after laying the foundation for a revolutionary financial system."
At that time, the statue received high praise from Lugano's mayor, Michele Foletti, who stated: "Lugano is rapidly becoming a leading center for digital innovation. This statue not only commemorates Satoshi Nakamoto but also embodies the forward-thinking spirit that drives our city's development. We are honored to host the Plan ₿ forum and support the development of blockchain technology and digital assets. We are very pleased that this statue commemorating the founder of Bitcoin can be located in Lugano."
No one expected that a year later, this statue would suddenly go missing.
Image of the Satoshi Nakamoto statue in Lugano
The Theft of the Satoshi Nakamoto Statue in Lugano: A Reward of 0.1 BTC for a Comedic Farce
Around 2 AM on August 3, according to X platform user @Grittoshireporting, the Satoshi Nakamoto statue in Lugano, Switzerland, seemed to have been stolen, leaving only the statue's base and a few disordered pieces of material at the scene. This incident was subsequently retweeted by BitcoinNews, quickly attracting the attention of a large number of crypto enthusiasts.
Poor Satoshi Nakamoto, only two remaining feet at the scene
After the theft, the planning organization for the Satoshi Nakamoto statue, Satoshigallery, immediately posted on X platformstating** that they would offer 0.1 BTC to anyone who helps recover the stolen Satoshi Nakamoto statue.** Additionally, the organization strongly addressed the thief, stating: "You can steal our symbol, but you can never steal our soul."
Furthermore, the Satoshigallery team stated they would work together to place this statue in 21 locations worldwide (corresponding to Bitcoin's total supply of 21 million).
Subsequently, the user @Grittoshi, who initially reported the "theft" of the Satoshi Nakamoto statue, appeared in the comments section and posted: "That was my photo. According to Occam's razor, my view is as follows: I was in the park on the night of August 1, and it was still there. That day was Swiss National Day. Many young people were drunk and partying at the outdoor café next to the statue. When they went home, they might have just 'played' with the statue (you can see in my photo, the statue was only welded at two points and still intact). There are cameras all over the city, so I speculate that they threw it into the nearby lake before going home. It's impossible for them to take it through the city unnoticed. So my view: it's in the lake next to its original location."
In the end, the development of the situation confirmed his speculation—
The Satoshi Nakamoto statue was retrieved from the shore
Around 8 PM on August 3, the Satoshigallery team posted to express gratitude to the Lugano city government, stating that the Satoshi Nakamoto statue had been found in the lake next to the park and was assisted by the Lugano city government in retrieving it.
The official Plan ₿ forum of Lugano city subsequently posted that a petition for the restoration of the Satoshi Nakamoto statue had been initiated, and the costs for remaking the statue would be borne by the artist and the Satoshigallery team, provided it is safely exhibited—"The symbol of innovation and freedom must be protected." The petition also emphasized that they hope the Lugano city government can provide necessary logistical support and a suitable and safe new location to ensure the visibility, appreciation, and protection of the sculpture, without requesting any financial assistance. Currently, the petition** has garnered 238 signatures, still 12 signatures short of its goal.**
Petition website page
The Satoshi Nakamoto Statue: A Symbol of Cryptocurrency and Financial Freedom
It is worth mentioning that the 21 Satoshi Nakamoto statues envisioned by the Satoshigallery team have currently completed 3:
The first was completed last October, which is the one "stolen" in Lugano;
The second was completed this January and was unveiled by Tether at the Plan ₿ forum in El Salvador;
The third was revealed in Tokyo, Japan this April, and the team behind it celebrated by posting: "Images create culture; culture shapes values; values influence the future; we are all Satoshi!" The words are filled with a sense of faith.
Satoshi Nakamoto statue in Tokyo, Japan
After the brief disappearance and recovery of the Satoshi Nakamoto statue in Lugano, this dramatic event has also evoked many people's reflections:
Some said that with 3 nodes scattered around the world, losing one still leaves 2—comparing the Satoshi Nakamoto statue to on-chain nodes carries profound meaning;
Others said that they first ignore you; then they laugh at you; then they attack you; and then you win—accompanied by an image of the Satoshi Nakamoto statue adrift by the lake, symbolizing Bitcoin and cryptocurrency showcasing their heroic nature amidst turbulent waters;
And someone had already posted back in July: "People pass by near Punto Foce in Lugano, unaware of everything Satoshi built to secure their future."—This portrays Satoshi, who fades from the crowd's view, as a behind-the-scenes hero.
Additionally, there is another interesting story worth sharing: as early as September 2021, the first physical statue of Satoshi Nakamoto was unveiled in Budapest, Hungary. The life-sized bronze statue depicts a person wearing a hoodie, with the Bitcoin logo on the left side of the clothing. Due to its gilded aluminum, the statue's face can reflect like a mirror. By allowing people to see their own reflected image, it aims to convey the message that "we are all Satoshi." According to video feedback from those who participated in the statue's unveiling ceremony, the crowd gathered at the scene, and the atmosphere was very lively.
It is understood that the idea for this statue came from cryptocurrency journalist András Györfi. In an interview with the Hungarian daily newspaper, he stated that the true identity of Bitcoin's creator is not important. The statue currently stands in Graphisoft Park, which is also home to tech giants like SAP, Canon, and Microsoft; this tech park also features a statue of the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Additionally, in 2018, the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, also showcased a virtual monument to Satoshi Nakamoto.
It must be said that after disappearing for over a decade, Satoshi Nakamoto remains an undeniable spiritual symbol of cryptocurrency and a monumental figure in the industry.
Looking at the various physical statues of Satoshi Nakamoto, I am always reminded of a passage written by Marx in his 17-year-old essay "Considerations of the Young Man When Choosing a Profession"—
“If we choose the profession that works best for humanity, then the heavy burden cannot crush us, for it is a sacrifice made for all; at that time, what we enjoy will not be a pitiful, limited, selfish pleasure; our happiness will belong to millions, our work will quietly exist, but it will always have an effect, and noble people will shed warm tears over our ashes.”
We Are All Satoshi.
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