The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), long seen as a bastion of traditional finance, has taken a step once thought unlikely. A new “vanishing” statue of Satoshi Nakamoto — author of the Bitcoin whitepaper and the anonymous figure behind a financial revolution — now stands outside its building.

Created by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, the work is the sixth in a global series of 21 planned installations. Others appear in Switzerland, El Salvador, Japan, Vietnam, and Miami, collectively highlighting the growing role of cryptocurrencies in today’s economy.

Wall Street shifts tone from taboo to shared ground

A few years ago, cryptocurrency was almost a forbidden word on Wall Street. Today, the exchange itself describes the installation on X as “shared ground between new systems and established institutions.” The piece was brought to New York by Bitcoin firm Twenty One Capital, which has just launched trading operations.

For Picozzi, the New York installation represents a milestone. Known as Satoshigallery, she called the placement “mind-blowing.” The unveiling also aligns symbolically with the anniversary of the Bitcoin mailing list, launched on December 10, 2008.

From the genesis block to a multibillion-dollar market

On January 3, 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto mined the genesis block — the first 50 bitcoins ever created — laying the foundation for an entirely new industry. Less than a year later came the first documented purchase using a cryptocurrency: Laszlo Hanyecz famously paid 10,000 BTC for two pizzas, a moment now celebrated as Bitcoin Pizza Day.

Subsequent years brought scrutiny and skepticism. Regulators and banks questioned the technology, and initiatives such as Operation Chokepoint 2.0 sought to restrict access to traditional banking services. Over time, the tide turned. Former skeptics, including BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, became advocates. Today, institutions compete to offer the most compelling Bitcoin ETFs. According to Bitbo, public and private entities, governments, and funds now hold over 3.7 million BTC, worth more than $336 billion.

A global statue network honoring decentralization

Picozzi aims to produce 21 statues — mirroring the 21-million Bitcoin supply cap. “The statue conveys a sense of disappearance,” she explains. “Satoshi lives between the lines — in the very code of the Blockchain, which introduced the first truly decentralized payment system.”

The installations serve as reminders of Bitcoin’s origins: no central authority, no single face, but an idea preserved by the anonymity of its creator.

Sources:

https://x.com/NYSE/status/1998898609014665339?s=20

https://x.com/satoshigallery/status/1998899238978343190

https://bitbo.io/treasuries/

https://x.com/satoshigallery/status/1996337413107614135