A statue honoring the mysterious Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto has been stolen from Parco Ciani in Lugano, Switzerland.

The theft was confirmed by Satoshigallery, the group behind the global Satoshi statue initiative, which is now offering a 0.1 Bitcoin (BTC) reward (worth over $11,000) for information leading to its recovery.

“Where is Satoshi?” the group posted on X on Sunday. “You can steal our symbol but you will never be able to steal our souls,” the statement read, reaffirming their commitment to install the statue in 21 cities around the world despite the setback.

The artwork, designed by Italian artist and Bitcoin advocate Valentina Picozzi, was crafted from 304 stainless steel and corten blocks. It was unveiled in October last year.

Related: The Mystery of Bitcoin's Creator: Who Is Satoshi Nakamoto?

Bitcoin’s anonymity and collective identity

The Lugano statue features a faceless figure at a laptop and is engineered to disappear when viewed from the front or back, symbolizing the anonymity of Bitcoin’s creator and the idea that “we are all Satoshi.”

The concept reportedly took 18 months of study and three months to build. The statue was placed in front of Villa Ciani during the Plan B Forum, a yearly blockchain event co-hosted by the city of Lugano and stablecoin issuer Tether.

Mayor Michele Foletti called the statue a reflection of Lugano’s commitment to digital innovation. “Lugano is rapidly becoming a leading hub for digital innovation, and this statue honors Satoshi Nakamoto, but also embodies the forward-thinking spirit that drives our city,” he said at the time.

Notably, this isn’t the first tribute to Nakamoto in public art. In 2021, a bronze statue was unveiled in Budapest’s Graphisoft Park, designed with a mirrored face so viewers see themselves in the figure, referencing the idea that Satoshi could be anyone.

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Nakamoto becomes 11th richest individual

Nakamoto became the world’s 11th richest individual, at least in theory, after Bitcoin reached $120,000 last month. Nakamoto is believed to control 1.096 million BTC, worth over $131 billion.

To surpass Elon Musk, currently the world’s richest person with a net worth of over $404 billion, Bitcoin would need to more than triple in value. Nakamoto’s wallets remain untouched, further fueling the mystique around Bitcoin’s anonymous founder.

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