Bitcoin Creator Honored with a Statue at the New York Stock Exchange

There are days when fiction seems caught up by reality. A statue of Satoshi Nakamoto, the mythical creator of bitcoin, now stands at Wall Street. Yes, where once the very idea of cryptocurrency scared away the suited and tie-wearers. This gesture, both artistic and symbolic, marks a turning point in the history of finance. And raises this simple question: how far will bitcoin infiltrate the bastions of economic power?

The NYSE Welcomes Nakamoto: A Strong Symbol for the Future of Crypto

For a long time, the New York Stock Exchange was the sanctuary of institutions, not revolutions. Yet it is at the foot of the temple of capitalism that the sixth statue of Satoshi Nakamoto was erected. The work is by Valentina Picozzi. It represents an anonymous hacker, sitting cross-legged, laptop on their knees. A meditative, almost mystical posture. Installed by the company Twenty One Capital, the sculpture embodies a bridge between two worlds: that of emerging systems and that of historic institutions.

In a message posted on X, the NYSE underscores the scope of this initiative by mentioning a common ground between emerging systems and established institutions. The choice of location is no coincidence. It coincides with the anniversary date of the Bitcoin mailing list, launched on December 10, 2008. An acknowledged nod to the project’s origins, as if bitcoin, having been marginal, finally finds its place in the nerve center of global finance.

The reaction of Valentina Picozzi, shared by her @satoshigallery account, speaks volumes about the emotion of the moment: 

This is such an achievement, even in our wildest dream we wouldn’t think about placing the statue of Satoshi Nakamoto in this location! The 6th/21 statues of Satoshi Nakamoto found its home in the NYSE.

21 Statues, a Legend: The Worldwide Tour of the Bitcoin Creator

This installation is just one step in a much larger artistic series. Valentina Picozzi’s goal? To place 21 statues of Nakamoto around the world, as a direct echo of the 21 million bitcoins that will one day be in circulation. Each work thus becomes a symbolic marker, a ghostly presence of Nakamoto on five continents.

Previous statues have been installed in Switzerland, El Salvador, Japan, Vietnam, and Miami. They all share a common message: to remind that Nakamoto is not a name, but an idea. A vision carried by code, decentralization, and a deep desire for transparency. In an interview, the artist explains that the goal is to give the viewer the feeling of disappearance, as if Nakamoto were still living in the lines of code.

The NYSE work has attracted even more attention because it occurs in a context where cryptocurrencies are increasingly establishing themselves in institutional circles. While bitcoin retains a lead in symbolism and capitalization, projects like Ethereum or Solana also draw investors’ attention. But no other crypto yet matches the narrative strength embodied by Nakamoto.

Another tweet from the artist already announced the next step: a new statue soon to be unveiled in a place described as “wild and meaningful”, a way to keep the “guerrilla” spirit of this initiative alive. A discreet but powerful worldwide tour.

Some Key Milestones

• The price of bitcoin today hovers around $90,142, a dizzying high;
• The first BTC transaction? Two pizzas paid for with 10,000 bitcoins in 2010;
• BlackRock, formerly a skeptic, is now among the converts;
• More than 3.7 million bitcoins are held by institutions or states (source: Bitbo);
• 21 statues planned, like the 21 million BTC created in total.

And as if that were not enough, bold projects are now trying to “revive” Satoshi Nakamoto with AI. Yes, you read that right: it is now possible to chat with him thanks to a chatbot trained on his writings. A new way to weave a link between the invisible founder and enthusiasts who still dream of unveiling his mystery.