At the third annual Plan ₿ Forum in Lugano, Switzerland, a statue dedicated to Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto was unveiled as a symbolic gesture to honor decentralization and financial sovereignty. The event, held by the Plan ₿ Initiative in collaboration with the city of Lugano and Tether, attracted blockchain industry figures and government officials. The bronze statue, designed by Valentina Picozzi, aims to encapsulate both the enigma and legacy of Satoshi Nakamoto.
As the observer’s viewpoint shifts, the statue appears to fade, symbolizing Nakamoto’s disappearance from the public sphere in 2010 after creating Bitcoin in 2009. Mayor Michele Foletti noted the city’s growing prominence in digital innovation, highlighting the significance of the monument in Lugano’s efforts to foster a blockchain-based economy.
“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,” Foletti remarked. “We are proud to host the Plan ₿ Forum and to support the growth of blockchain technology and digital assets, and we are thrilled to now be home to this statue honoring the creator of Bitcoin.”
This year’s Plan ₿ Forum focused on the advancement of Bitcoin and blockchain technologies, with discussions centered around the potential of decentralized finance (defi) to reshape traditional finance. Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, emphasized the statue as a tribute to Nakamoto’s impact on decentralized finance, reflecting the ongoing pursuit of financial autonomy and innovation in the blockchain sector.