The Bitcoin art world has suffered a blow as the enigmatic statue of Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, has vanished from its current home in Lugano, Switzerland. The Satoshigallery, which curated and displayed the piece, has announced a reward of 0.1 BTC to anyone who can help recover the stolen statue, further deepening the mystery that shrouds both Satoshi Nakamoto and this distinctive work of art.

The Satoshigallery team took to X following the theft to offer a reward for its recovery and to reinforce its determination to place 21 Satoshi statues around the world. This mission is meant to echo Bitcoin’s 21 million coin limit, reinforcing the principles of scarcity, decentralization, and indestructibility. The gallery wrote:

“You can steal our symbol but you will never be able to steal our souls.”

Embodying the spirit of Satoshi Nakamoto

The statue was celebrated not just as a physical memorial, but for its conceptual brilliance. Designed to embody the spirit of Bitcoin’s elusive creator, the piece plays with perception and meaning, appearing invisible from the front, a clever nod to Nakamoto’s anonymity.

When viewed from the side, the form emerges, reminding viewers that Satoshi may be hidden, but always present within Bitcoin’s ethos, capturing how Nakamoto’s indelible impact remains at the very core of the crypto movement.

Support from the Bitcoin community

Messages of support have poured in from around the world, with members of the Bitcoin community expressing solidarity. For many, the statue is more than just art; it is a symbol of resilience, innovation, and the ongoing quest for financial sovereignty.

Tuur Demeester, Blockstream advisor and Bitcoin OG, commented:

“Very sad… Next one should maybe be in a few cubics of granite”

Founder of TIP Preston Pysh simply said:

“Even his statue disappears…”

As the search continues, the story of Satoshi (the person and the statue) reaffirms that some mysteries, in the digital age, only grow stronger with every attempt to erase them.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the statue of Satoshi Nakamoto is encouraged to contact the Satoshigallery team.

Mentioned in this article

The iconic “disappearing” statue of pseudonymous Bitcoin (BTC) creator Satoshi Nakamoto, reported stolen on Saturday, has been recovered, according to Satoshigallery, the art collective responsible for installing the statue. 

Municipal workers from the city of Lugano, Switzerland, recovered the statue, which was thrown into Lake Lugano after it was removed from its base in Parco Ciani, a lakefront park in the Swiss city, by unknown persons. 

The municipal workers discovered the statue in several pieces, indicating vandalism, rather than theft for monetary gain. The statue was only welded to the base at two points at the statue’s feet, which remained fixed to the base.

Satoshigallery offered a 0.1 BTC reward, valued at over $11,000, for the recovery of the statue, and Cointelegraph reached out to the art collective for comment but was unable to obtain a response by the time of publication.

The iconic work of art by the Italian artist and Bitcoin advocate Valentina Picozzi was unveiled in October 2024 and has become a flagship symbol of the Bitcoin community. The statue took 21 months to fully plan and construct, according to the artist.

Related: Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto is the world’s 11th richest person

Bitcoin community reacts to vandalism against iconic symbol

The Bitcoin community voiced reactions of disgust and defiance at the theft and vandalism of the statue, which has since become a symbol of the Bitcoin movement and the digital currency’s mysterious creator.

“Such a tasteless and stupid thing to do. Hope they find who did it,” Gabor Gurbacs, founder and CEO of blockchain loyalty rewards and tokenization platform Pointsville, wrote in a X post.

Others like pseudonymous Bitcoin advocate Gritto theorized that “drunk” partygoers celebrating Swiss National Day, the holiday that commemorates the founding charter of the European country, were responsible for the vandalism.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino reacted to the recovery of the iconic statue with a simple heart emoji on social media.

“You can steal our symbol, but you will never be able to steal our souls,” Satoshigallery said, while reiterating the art collective’s commitment to placing similar statues in 21 locations around the globe.

Magazine: Baby boomers worth $79T are finally getting on board with Bitcoin

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/iconic-satoshi-nakamoto-statue-recovered-by-lugano-municipality/feed/ 0 51293 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/immortal-rising-2-to-launch-immortal-statue-nft-collection/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/immortal-rising-2-to-launch-immortal-statue-nft-collection/#respond Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:59:27 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/immortal-rising-2-to-launch-immortal-statue-nft-collection/

Immortal Rising 2 have recently introduced the Immortal Statue NFT Collection—a limited-edition NFT collection that provides players with token allocations, in-game advantages, and exclusive rewards.

With two different tiers available, players have the opportunity to gain various in-game enhancements based on the NFT they acquire.

The whitelist application for early access remains open until March 6, with the public sale to follow.

What is the Immortal Statue Collection?

The collection features two distinct NFTs, each offering different levels of in-game benefits:

• The Exalted Immortal Bust – Priced at $50 worth of $IMX, this NFT provides a 1,666 $IMT token allocation, in-game claims, and daily reward bonuses.
• The Divine Immortal Effigy – A rarer NFT, available with a 20% chance when purchasing an Exalted Bust, which includes a 2,500 $IMT token allocation and additional in-game rewards.

The token allocation follows a staggered distribution, with 30% released immediately and the remaining portion unlocked over a 9-month period. Players who hold multiple NFTs receive additional in-game benefits, incentivising long-term ownership.

What are the benefits to holding an Immortal Statue NFT?

Each tier of the Immortal Statue NFT Collection offers distinct benefits:

• The Exalted Immortal Bust:
  • Daily Rewards: 5 Master Keys and 200 Souls per day.
  • In-Game Bonuses: Includes two free in-game NFT claims and a coupon code for 1,000,000 Gems.
  • Token Airdrop: 1,666 $IMT tokens, with 30% unlocked immediately and the remainder vested over nine months.
  • Holding Benefits: Players who own 3 Exalted NFTs receive double daily rewards, whilst those with 5 receive triple rewards.
• The Divine Immortal Effigy:
  • Daily Rewards: 7 Master Keys, 300 Souls, and 5 Mystery Boxes per day.
  • In-Game Bonuses: Includes two free in-game NFT claims and a coupon code for 1,000,000 Gems.
  • Token Airdrop: 2,500 $IMT tokens, with 30% unlocked immediately and the remainder vested over nine months.
  • Holding Benefits: Players who own three Divine NFTs receive double daily rewards, while those with five receive triple rewards.

These benefits provide long-term value to players engaged in Immortal Rising 2, offering additional in-game resources and token incentives based on NFT ownership.

How to participate in the mint?

The collection will be distributed through a raffle system to ensure fairness. Whitelisted participants have a guaranteed opportunity to purchase at least one NFT, whilst public buyers will be entered into a draw. Any unsuccessful participants will have their raffle ticket purchases refunded.

The key dates for the minting process are:

• • March 6 – Whitelist application deadline
  • March 12 – Announcement of whitelist selection
  • March 18-20  – Raffle sale window
  • Post-sale – NFT distribution and refunds for unsuccessful participants

To qualify for the whitelist, players must submit their in-game ID via the Whitelist Application, verify their Immutable Passport wallet, and complete specific engagement tasks.

Alternatively, The Immortal Trial will also allow players to earn whitelist access through in-game achievements or by holding $IMX tokens.