The Italian town of Fornelli, located in the Molise region, is preparing to unveil what will be the country’s first monument dedicated to Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin.
The statue, designed by local artist Mattia Pannoni and financed entirely by the municipality, will be revealed to the public on 1 May 2025 at 10:30 AM in Piazza Umberto I.
With only 1,800 residents, Fornelli has quietly become one of the most Bitcoin-active communities globally.
The local government claims it has “the highest density of Bitcoin adoption in the world,” supported by 24 businesses in the area already accepting cryptocurrency payments.
The infrastructure in place allows locals and visitors alike to live, shop, and pay with Bitcoin as part of everyday life.
Fornelli, an Italian village with well-preserved city walls, sits atop a hill offering views of the Molise countryside and features narrow streets and stone houses, creating a traditional atmosphere.
This crypto-forward environment has drawn comparisons with other crypto hubs like El Zonte in El Salvador, known as Bitcoin Beach, and Zug in Switzerland.
However, Fornelli appears to be setting itself apart by integrating Bitcoin deeply into its local economy and culture.
Mattia Pannoni, the young artist commissioned to create the monument, is known locally for his interest in cryptocurrency and digital themes.
Mattia Pannoni, the artist behind Italy’s first Bitcoin monument
His sculpture is described as a tribute to “freedom and everything that Bitcoin represents.”
True to the mystery surrounding Nakamoto’s identity, the monument avoids any defined facial features—a common theme in artistic interpretations of the Bitcoin founder.
Fornelli’s mayor, Giovanni Tedeschi, said the project reflects the municipality’s openness to new ideas, especially those coming from younger generations.
He stated,
“It is important, indeed fundamental, as an administration, to take into consideration all the new ideas that come from our young people.”
Fornelli joins a growing list of locations worldwide that have dedicated public monuments to Nakamoto.
In October 2024, a statue was unveiled in Parco Ciani, a park in Lugano, Switzerland, during the Plan ₿ Forum, a major blockchain event.
That artwork, like Pannoni’s, also avoids giving Nakamoto a specific face, maintaining the anonymity that defines the Bitcoin founder.
Another statue followed in February 2025 in El Salvador, also linked to a Plan ₿ Forum event, and now stands at Bitcoin Beach in El Zonte—a symbolic site for crypto adoption in the country.
Fornelli’s monument is expected to be more than just a statue—it marks the village’s ambition to position itself as a destination for digital nomads and travellers seeking to live in a crypto-friendly environment.
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