Vietnam Unveils Fifth Global Satoshi Nakamoto Statue, Accelerating Blockchain Adoption

Vietnam has joined the elite group of nations honoring Bitcoin's enigmatic creator Satoshi Nakamoto, with the unveiling of a distinctive statue in Hanoi on Tuesday.

The Southeast Asian nation becomes the fifth country globally to host a tribute to the anonymous Bitcoin founder, following Hungary, Spain, Japan, and the United States, according to local media reports.

"Vanishing" Satoshi Statue Symbolizes Decentralization

The Vietnam Blockchain and Digital Asset Association (VBA) orchestrated the inauguration ceremony within the framework of the Blockchain Gallery, a pioneering cultural and technological exhibition space. The gallery represents Vietnam's first public venue dedicated to blockchain technology and digital assets, designed to forge connections between art, technological innovation, and community engagement.

The statue's unveiling coincided with the launch of the Satoshi Vietnam Foundation, a non-profit organization inspired by the global satoshi.museum project. According to VBA, the foundation aims to popularize blockchain technology among Vietnamese youth, support technology startups, and advance social and environmental initiatives aligned with sustainable development goals.

Nguyễn Vân Hiền, Vice President and General Secretary of VBA, spearheaded the effort to bring the statue to Vietnam. During the ceremony, she emphasized that the work symbolizes decentralized culture and Vietnam's technological innovation ambitions.

The Hanoi installation features a unique artistic approach titled the "vanishing" Satoshi, created by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi. The sculpture incorporates a "disappearing effect" when viewed from different angles—a deliberate design choice representing Nakamoto's mysterious withdrawal from public life after establishing Bitcoin's foundations and transferring control to the global community.

"It is a work that embodies disappearance, a reminder that Bitcoin was left to the people," VBA officials explained.

Picozzi dedicated 21 months—symbolically matching Bitcoin's 21 million maximum supply—to designing and refining the piece to capture the spirit of decentralization and anonymity fundamental to Bitcoin's creation.

Expanding Global Legacy of Satoshi Monuments

The Vietnamese statue joins an expanding global collection of Satoshi monuments. The first and most recognized installation is Budapest's faceless bronze figure titled We are all Satoshi, unveiled in 2021.

Hungarian sculptors Réka Gergely and Tamás Gilly designed the Budapest statue with a reflective face that mirrors visitors who stand before it, conveying that anyone can embody Nakamoto's vision of decentralized finance. This artistic choice reflects the persistent mystery surrounding Nakamoto's true identity, which remains one of technology's greatest enigmas despite numerous investigations and claims.

Strategic Blockchain Integration in Vietnam's Economy

VBA leadership emphasized that the project transcends mere commemoration of Nakamoto, serving as a catalyst for blockchain integration into Vietnamese culture and economy. International reports estimate Vietnam hosts approximately 17 million digital asset holders, with crypto transactions valued at roughly $105 billion.

Several major Vietnamese financial institutions—including SSI Securities, Techcom Securities (TCBS), and the Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB)—are reportedly engaged in discussions with regulatory authorities to establish dedicated cryptocurrency divisions.

Vietnamese authorities are expected to authorize the creation of approximately five licensed digital asset exchanges, which will maintain connections with international platforms to support roughly 50 tokenized assets.

"Blockchain Gallery proves that blockchain is not just technology but also culture, shaping values in real life," Hiền stated during the ceremony. This sentiment was reinforced by Trung, who added that Nakamoto's story continues to inspire blockchain communities worldwide.

Trung also connected the statue's unveiling to Resolution 57, a directive issued by Vietnam's Politburo encouraging innovation and advancing national digital transformation. "This is a concrete step in aligning cultural projects with state policy," he noted.

In July, Trung revealed on his personal page that the artwork would be brought to Vietnam at a valuation of one Bitcoin. With Bitcoin having surpassed $120,000, the statue now represents approximately 3.1 billion Vietnamese dong in value.