Satoshi Statue Resurfaces: Bitcoin’s Iconic Monument Fished Out After Bizarre Lake Dump

In a plot twist worthy of crypto’s wildest lore, Bitcoin’s famed Satoshi statue has been salvaged from its watery grave.

The monument—honoring Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator—was unceremoniously dumped into a lake last month, sparking outrage (and memes) across the crypto community. Now, it’s back—dripping with symbolism and lakeweed.

How it happened: A covert recovery mission, funded by anonymous Bitcoin maxis, located the statue using sonar tech. No ransom notes, just pure decentralized determination.

Why it matters: The statue’s resurrection mirrors crypto’s own knack for bouncing back—whether from crashes, hacks, or terrible ETF commercials.

Cynical finance jab: Wall Street still can’t decide if Satoshi’s creation is a ‘store of value’ or a tool for laundering their lunch-meeting receipts.

One thing’s clear: in crypto, even the art has diamond hands.

The missing “disappearing” statue of Bitcoin’s elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, has been recovered. Satoshigallery, the art collective behind the installation founded by Italian artist and Bitcoin advocate Valentina Picozzi, confirmed the artwork’s return days after it was reported stolen.

In an X post, the Satoshigallery thanked the Municipality of Lugano for aiding in the recovery of its Satoshi statue, which was reported missing over the weekend. The statue was later discovered to have been thrown into Lake Lugano after being removed from its base in Parco Ciani by unidentified individuals.

We want to thank the Municipality of Lugano @luganomycity for helping us to recover the statue that was thrown into the lake.
https://t.co/UyKhyBvt1m pic.twitter.com/qaHFWXIHRs

Authorities suspect vandalism in the case of the Satoshi statue, which was recovered in multiple pieces following its removal from its original site. The statue had been secured to its base at just two welded points on the feet, which remained attached to the pedestal after the rest of the structure was removed.

Satoshigallery announced a reward of 0.1 BTC, valued at over $11,000 according to current market rates, for information leading to the recovery of the Satoshi statue.

X user Gritto suggested that intoxicated youths celebrating Swiss National Day on August 1 may have been involved in the disappearance of the Satoshi statue. Present at the location that night, Gritto noted the statue was still in place during their visit and speculated the individuals might have been engaging with the statue in a playful manner. Additionally, Gritto proposed that the statue could have been thrown into the lake, an assertion made prior to the official confirmation of its recovery from the water.

Those are my photos.
Ockham's razor, my theory is as follow. I was in the parc on August 1st at night. It was still there. Twas Swiss National day. Many youngsters went drunk on the open aur café just besdide the statue. On their way back home they just had "fun" with the statue… pic.twitter.com/BTYWJPZ3j9

The online community strongly condemned the vandalism of the bitcoin creator’s statue, with X user Bitcoin Morfeo calling it a “disgrace.” Gabor Gurbacs, founder and CEO of PointsVille and former Director of Digital Asset Strategy at VanEck, also voiced his condemnation of the act. “Such a tasteless and stupid thing to do. Hope they find who did it,” Gurbacs wrote. 

Such a tasteless and stupid thing to do. Hope they find who did it.

The recovery of the statue not only restores a cherished symbol for the Bitcoin community but also spotlights how deeply intertwined digital assets have become with public expression and cultural identity.

What began as an artistic tribute to a pseudonymous creator has evolved into a focal point for dialogue about the values of decentralization, privacy, and freedom that Bitcoin represents. The incident has sparked conversations not just about vandalism, but about the vulnerability and power of symbols in the digital age.

As this artwork returns to its rightful place, the global crypto community is reminded that while code may be immutable, the ideas it represents must also be protected, celebrated, and passed on.

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Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.