The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) recently welcomed a symbolic installation art piece — the 'Disappearing Satoshi Nakamoto Statue' created by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi. This is the sixth installation of the series globally, marking the transition of Bitcoin from a fringe idea to the core of mainstream finance.
This statue was installed with the assistance of the Bitcoin company Twenty One Capital.
The NYSE described the work on social platform X as symbolizing 'a common ground between emerging systems and existing institutions', reflecting that traditional finance is beginning to view crypto assets with a more open attitude.
Picozzi shares in X under the name Satoshigallery, stating that placing the work in such an important financial landmark is 'incredible' and marks a significant milestone in his creative career.
This exhibition also coincides with the anniversary of the Bitcoin Mailing List.
Satoshi Nakamoto established the forum on December 10, 2008, initiating the exchange of ideas and technical discussions about Bitcoin.
Bitcoin has transitioned from an experimental concept to a mainstream global asset.
Since the creation of the genesis block in 2009, Bitcoin has evolved from an ideal experiment for geek communities to an asset held by global enterprises, financial institutions, and governments.
The 'Pizza Day' transaction in 2010 saw 10,000 BTC exchanged for just two pizzas; in the following decade, cryptocurrencies faced rejection by financial institutions and regulatory challenges, including the 'Operation Chokepoint 2.0' crackdown on cryptocurrency businesses.
However, as Bitcoin is viewed as a new type of digital asset, a safe-haven tool, and a payment technology, its image has completely changed.
Critics, including BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, have begun shifting toward support, with more large institutions starting to hold Bitcoin directly through ETFs or corporate balance sheets.
According to Bitbo data, publicly listed companies, private enterprises, sovereign nations, and ETFs currently hold over 3.7 million Bitcoins, with a market value exceeding $336 billion.
The plan for 21 Satoshi Nakamoto statues continues to advance.
Picozzi has previously created five statues in regions including Switzerland, El Salvador, Japan, Vietnam, and Miami, USA.
She plans to place 21 statues globally, symbolizing the maximum supply of 21 million Bitcoins.
Picozzi states that Satoshi Nakamoto is one of the most mysterious and influential tech figures of this century, and the statue is a tribute to his contributions.
She points out that the design of the work presents an image of a hacker holding a laptop, using a translucent and multi-layered structure to symbolize 'Satoshi's disappearance,' echoing the anonymity, decentralization, and spirit of existing within the code of Bitcoin's founder.
Valentina Picozzi states:
'This statue hopes to convey to viewers that even if the creator disappears, Bitcoin continues to operate and is maintained by global developers.'
What do you all think? This Satoshi statue, do you find it beautiful?
