The Swiss city of Lugano by the lake has once again become the focus of attention in the Crypto Assets world. In early August 2025, a highly publicized Satoshi Nakamoto statue was vandalized and thrown into the lake, sparking widespread discussion and concern.

This statue, meticulously designed by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, symbolizes the anonymity and decentralization philosophy of Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto with its unique transparent hollow style. Since its installation in October 2024 at Parco Ciani park in the city of Lugano, it has become an important landmark for the Bitcoin community.

However, this symbolic artwork recently encountered misfortune. According to the municipal authorities of Lugano, the statue was forcibly removed from its pedestal and then thrown into Lake Lugano. When found, the statue was severely damaged, broken into several pieces, clearly indicating that this was a case of deliberate vandalism rather than simple theft.

The art group Satoshigallery responded to the incident, stating that the installation method of the statue—secured to the base solely by welding the feet—might have inadvertently provided convenience for the vandals. This detail has sparked reflections on the safety protection measures for public artworks.

Social media users speculate that the incident may be related to the Swiss National Day celebrations, believing it could be the result of a group of young people engaging in excessive behavior after drinking. Although Satoshigallery offered a reward of 0.1 Bitcoin (approximately $11,000) for clues, there is currently no exact information about the perpetrators.

This event not only triggered a strong reaction from the Crypto Assets community but also led to a deeper reflection on public art preservation and the symbolic meaning of Crypto Assets culture. As a representative of the founder of Bitcoin, the fate of the Satoshi Nakamoto statue seems to reflect the complexity and uncertainty of the Crypto Assets world.

As the investigation progresses, crypto assets enthusiasts and members of the art community are closely following the developments. This unexpected incident may prompt people to reconsider the security issues surrounding public artworks and the manifestation of crypto asset culture in the real world.