The New York Stock Exchange has become the sixth location to host Valentina Picozzi’s “disappearing” Satoshi Nakamoto statue — a remarkable change from just a few years ago when crypto was considered taboo on Wall Street.
Traditionally viewed as a stronghold of conventional finance, the NYSE described the installation as “shared ground between emerging systems and established institutions” in an X post on Wednesday.
The statue was placed by Bitcoin (BTC) firm Twenty One Capital, which began trading this week. The design is credited to Picozzi, who noted on X under her Satoshigallery handle that displaying her work in such a noteworthy venue is “mind-blowing.”
“This is such an achievement, even in our wildest dreams we wouldn’t have imagined placing the statue of Satoshi Nakamoto here! The 6th/21 statues of Satoshi Nakamoto now resides at the NYSE,” she added.
This installation coincides with the anniversary of the Bitcoin mailing list that Nakamoto initiated on Dec. 10, 2008.
Bitcoin’s evolution from concept to mainstream asset
Satoshi Nakamoto mined the genesis block on Jan. 3, 2009, creating the first 50 Bitcoin in history and laying the groundwork for today’s crypto industry.
More than a year later, on May 22, 2010, programmer Laszlo Hanyecz made the first recorded purchase of goods using Bitcoin, spending 10,000 Bitcoin for two pizzas from Papa John’s.
Throughout the years, Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market faced numerous obstacles as institutions and banks distanced themselves and governments responded with attempts to restrict their growth, including initiatives like Operation Chokepoint 2.0.
Nevertheless, the landscape has changed as skeptics, including BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, have reevaluated the technology, prompting institutions and Wall Street to invest through methods like exchange-traded funds and by directly holding Bitcoin in their reserves.
Combined, public and private companies, nations, and ETFs now possess over 3.7 million Bitcoin, according to Bitbo, valued at over $336 billion.
More Satoshi statues are planned
Picozzi has five other Nakamoto statues situated worldwide, located in Switzerland, El Salvador, Japan, Vietnam, and Miami, Florida.
Related: Disappearing Satoshi statue in Lugano took 21 months to create, says artist
Picozzi, using her Satoshigallery profile, stated her commitment to placing 21 around the globe, potentially referencing the theoretical maximum supply of 21 million Bitcoin.
In an interview with Cointelegraph last year, she expressed that Nakamoto is one of the era’s most compelling figures, and the statues serve as a tribute to the individual behind Bitcoin.
“The statue aims to evoke a sense of disappearance and the notion that the inventor remains hidden — as of today, Satoshi exists within the Bitcoin code, enabling humanity to develop the first decentralized payment system,” she shared.
“It symbolizes a hacker in his typical pose, seated with a laptop on his lap, and pays homage to all the developers and programmers globally who have contributed to the Bitcoin ecosystem, advocating for transparency and freedom.”
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